Actress Hayden Panettiere had experienced serious health problems in the months before her death at the age of 36, according to a close friend, although authorities have not yet established what caused her death.
Speaking to Page Six, Panettiere’s friend and hairstylist Erick Orellana said the actress had struggled with a severe back problem earlier this year.
“I know she suffered earlier this year with her back,” Orellana said, adding that the condition became serious enough to affect her mobility. At one stage, he said, she had difficulty moving her legs.
Panettiere was reportedly seen using crutches at Los Angeles International Airport in March while accompanied by her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. Orellana said her condition subsequently appeared to improve.
Another source told the publication that the Heroes and Nashville star also experienced periods of anxiety and occasionally took medication, which the source claimed could sometimes affect her speech.
Panettiere’s death on August 16 was confirmed by her father, Skip Panettiere, who described his daughter as an “incredible light and a force of nature” and asked for privacy while the family dealt with the loss.
Despite reports about her health before her death, no official cause of death has been announced, and it has not been established that her earlier medical problems contributed to her death.
According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, the initial autopsy found no signs of trauma.
Panettiere, who became internationally known through television series including Heroes and Nashville, was 36.