HEATH LEDGER - LEDGER'S FAMILY SPEAKS

The family of Heath Ledger have described his death as "very tragic" and "accidental" in a statement issued following the actor's death yesterday.

The 28-year-old was found dead at an apartment in downtown Manhattan at 15:30 local time (20:30 GMT) on Tuesday as his housekeeper called to announce the arrival of a masseuse.

While police do not suspect foul play in the death of the Brokeback Mountain star, they are reportedly investigating the possibility that he died of a drug overdose, after prescription pills were found around his bed in the SoHo apartment.

"We, Heath's family, confirm the very tragic, untimely and accidental passing of our dearly loved son, brother and doting father of Matilda, who was found in a peaceful sleep in his New York apartment by his housekeeper," his father, Kim, read while accompanied by mother Sally and Ledger's sister, Katie.

"We would like to thank our friends and everyone around the world for their kind wishes at this time.

"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life, but few had the pleasure to truly know him."

Speaking in the actor's hometown of Perth, Australia, Kim Ledger added: "He was a down-to-Earth, generous, kind-hearted, life-loving and unselfish individual who was an extreme inspiration to many.

"Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."

Todd Haynes, the director of Ledger's latest film I'm Not There, in which he starred as one of several actors playing representations of Bob Dylan, called the actor "a true artist".

"This is an unimaginable tragedy," Haynes told Usmagazine.com in a statement.

"Heath was... a deeply sensitive man, an explorer, gifted and wise beyond his years," Haynes said. "There is no finer person on this earth."