Jermaine Jackson: 'I wish it was me who died'

Jermaine Jackson has given his first interview following brother Michael's death, admitting that he wishes he had died instead.

Speaking on The Today Show, the singer revealed that he was informed of his sibling's demise last week in a frantic phone call from their elderly mother.

"She was crying, saying he was dead. To hear my mother say, 'Michael is dead', to feel and hear the tone in her voice to say her child is dead, is nothing that anyone can ever imagine," he said.

"To see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me... I kissed him on his forehead, and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said Michael, 'I'll never leave you. You'll never leave me'."

The 54-year-old went on to say: "He went too soon. I don't know how people are going to take this, but I wish that it was me."

Jackson added that a hospital therapist had advised that the 'Thriller' star's three children should be allowed to see their father one final time in order to help their grieving process.

"I know it’s tough, but I think it was the best thing to do," he said. "At first I was against it, but what do you say if you don’t show them?"