Charles Kennedy's cause of death has been revealed following his death on 1 June.
A post mortem showed that the former Liberal Democrat leader died from a "major haemorrhage" that was "a consequence of his battle with alcoholism", his family said.
In a statement, they said: "The report makes clear this was a consequence of his battle with alcoholism.
"We are grateful to the many friends and also medical experts who sought to help down the years but ultimately this was an illness Charles could not conquer despite all the efforts he and others made."
It added: "The pain we feel has been at least eased somewhat by the reaction of so many people across Scotland, the UK and beyond, and by the affection expressed by politicians across the spectrum.
"It has become all too apparent to us how much Charles meant to so many people and how many lives he touched."
SEE ALSO:
Kennedy was found dead at his cottage in Fort William earlier this week.
Tributes poured in for the politician, with many praising not just his work as a politician but also his character.
In 2006, Kennedy announced that he was receiving treatment for problems with alcohol and called a leadership election for the Liberal Democrats.
In a blog earlier this week, Alastair Campbell spoke of his admiration for Kennedy and their "shared enemy" of alcohol.
He said: "It was a part of who he was, and the life he had; the struggles came and went, and went and came, but the great qualities that made Charles who and what he was were always there."
He today tweeted: