Hayden Panettiere’s Friend Shares Details on Her Severe Health Struggles Before Death

Hayden Panettiere, who captivated audiences for over two decades, transitioned from a beloved child star to one of television’s most prominent leading ladies. Her passing this week at the age of 36 has left fans and colleagues in shock, leading to a flood of tributes from those who knew her both professionally and personally.

Panettiere was discovered unresponsive on Sunday, August 16, at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina, where she was reportedly staying temporarily. Emergency responders attempted advanced life support measures, but she could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene. Both the Greenville Police Department and the Greenville County Coroner’s Office have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, though they have stated there are no indications of foul play.

In the days following her death, new information has surfaced regarding the health challenges Panettiere had been facing in the months prior. Her longtime hairstylist and close friend, Erick Orellana, described her condition as “really severe,” recalling that she had been suffering from intense back pain earlier in the year, which at times made it difficult for her to move her legs.

This account aligns with public sightings from earlier this year. In March, Panettiere was seen using crutches at Los Angeles International Airport alongside her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. She later opened up about her injury in an interview with Women’s Health in May, revealing that she had been dealing with nerve damage in her lower back for about a year and had, at one particularly alarming moment, lost feeling and mobility in her legs entirely.

According to Orellana, Panettiere seemed to be on the mend in the weeks leading up to her death. Other sources close to her indicated that she also struggled with anxiety at times and occasionally took medication to manage it, though the complete picture of her health in her final days remains unclear as the investigation continues.

Dispatch audio from the 911 call reportedly mentioned both “overdose” and “cardiac arrest,” although officials have not confirmed an official cause of death. Panettiere’s representative indicated that an overdose might be a possibility, but no further details are available at this time.

This tragic news comes just months after Panettiere released her memoir, ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning,’ where she openly discussed her experiences with postpartum depression, addiction, recovery, trauma, and the grief of losing her younger brother Jansen, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 28. She had previously expressed how profoundly that loss impacted her, stating in interviews that she never expected to fully overcome it.

Panettiere’s father, Alan “Skip” Panettiere, released a statement on behalf of the family, describing his daughter as “an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her.” He requested privacy as the family copes with what he termed an “unimaginable loss.”

Since the news of her death broke, tributes have flooded in from across the entertainment industry. ‘Nashville’ co-star Connie Britton remembered her as someone “bursting with brilliance, shining so bright,” while other former castmates and friends, including Kelly Osbourne, shared heartfelt reflections on Panettiere’s warmth and her openness about her struggles.

Best known for her breakout role in ‘Heroes’ and her years on ‘Nashville,’ Panettiere also starred in films such as ‘Remember the Titans,’ ‘Bring It On,’ and multiple ‘Scream’ installments, most recently reprising her role as Kirby Reed. She was set to celebrate her 37th birthday just days after her passing.

As more details emerge from the ongoing investigation, fans and colleagues are left to honor the legacy of an actress who spent much of her adult life candidly discussing the pain that many choose to conceal.

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