JOHANNESBURG, July 3 (Xinhua) -- South African former president Mandela is breathing by medical life support measures under the condition described as "perilous" by family members in a court paper-work released on Wednesday.

"He is assisted in breathing by a life support machine.. the anticipation of his impending death is based on real and substantial grounds," the document from his family members said in the Eastern Cape High Court.

According to the report of SAPA, the papers were filed by more than a dozen family members last Friday, so the "perilous" breathing situation has been lasting at least six days for Mandela, whose condition has been "critical" since June 23.

Mandela, to turn 95 in next month, was sent to a Pretoria hospital for a serious condition of recurring lung infection on June 8, which is the nation hero's fourth hospital-stay in seven month.