Hayden Panettiere was still experiencing physical pain from a serious on-set injury sustained more than 20 years prior to her death, according to details shared in her memoir. The actress, who died at age 36, wrote in her book "This Is Me: A Reckoning," released in May, that she suffered lasting injuries after being thrown from a zebra during a stunt for the 2005 film "Racing Stripes."
Panettiere, who was 14 at the time of the incident, stated in her memoir that the fall resulted in damage to two vertebrae in her neck, a concussion, and severe whiplash. She described enduring the pain in her back and neck, writing, "Over 20 years later, these injuries still bother me."
Escalating Health Concerns
The actress also linked her increased opioid use to a "neck injury" that flared up. Months before her passing, Panettiere spoke with Women's Health Magazine about a period where she was nearly incapacitated by an unexplained injury. "I quite literally woke up, and felt nothing but pins and needles from my waist down," she recalled. "I wasn’t able to bend my toes, lift my foot at all." The star expressed the fear of permanent paralysis during this time, calling it "the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me physically, for sure."
Friends and colleagues also noted Panettiere's physical struggles in the months leading up to her death. Her hairdresser, Erick Orellana, told Page Six that the actress was dealing with "really severe" back pain, at one point finding it difficult to move her legs. Lori Tan Chinn, a co-star from Panettiere's final film "Sleepwalker," observed that the actress "moved a little slower for her age" on set.
Panettiere was seen using crutches at Los Angeles International Airport in March, accompanied by her then-boyfriend Brian Hickerson. At the time, she attributed her mobility issues to pinched nerves in her lower back. [IMAGE: Hayden Panettiere and Brian Hickerson at LAX Airport in March] [IMAGE: Hayden Panettiere using crutches at LAX in March]
Circumstances of Death
Panettiere was found unresponsive on a Sunday at a South Carolina apartment complex. According to reports, Brian Hickerson and his brother, Zach, were present when first responders attempted to revive her unsuccessfully. Zach Hickerson discovered Panettiere in the living room, while Brian was asleep in another room.
A police report obtained by Page Six indicated that Brian Hickerson provided authorities with a "bag of medication" allegedly taken by Panettiere before she was pronounced dead. The cause of death is being investigated as an apparent overdose.