Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend Brian Hickerson speaks out following her death

The American actress died aged 36 at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday

Hayden Panettiere at the 2013 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in Berkeley Square, London. (Ian West/PA)

Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, has spoken out about the actress following the star’s death.

The American actress, who starred in Heroes and Nashville, died aged 36 at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday with Hickerson and his brother, Zach Hickerson, reportedly at the apartment.

Police said Panettiere was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest with a post-mortem examination by the Greenville County coroner’s office finding there were “no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances”.

A statement shared by Ellis Hinton law firm, on behalf of Brian Hickerson, said: “Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed.

“As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.

“Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”

A statement from Panettiere’s representatives on Monday said the star will be remembered by her family as an “incredible light” who brought “immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her”.

The cause and manner of death have not been confirmed.

Hayden Panettiere. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Panettiere’s ex-partner, former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, said his family is “going through a time of profound shock and grief”.

The couple dated from 2009 to 2018. Their daughter was born in 2014.

In 2018 Panettiere gave Klitschko full custody of their daughter Kaya as she struggled with addiction and mental health.

The 36-year-old began acting as a child, appearing in soap operas before gaining wider recognition for her role in the 2000 sports drama Remember The Titans alongside Denzel Washington, and as the voice of Dot in Pixar’s 1998 film A Bug’s Life.

Panettiere later found fame playing cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes before going on to star as up-and-coming country singer Juliette Barnes for six seasons on the hit TV series Nashville.

Her performances in Nashville earned her two Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress while her singing on the show produced 11 entries on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Panettiere’s film credits include 2006’s Bring It On: All Or Nothing, comedy-drama film Raising Helen, and appearances in Scream 4 and Scream VI as Kirby Reed.

Following her rapid rise to fame, the pressure of the industry began to weigh on Panettiere – with the actress previously revealing that she had struggled with addiction throughout her 20s.

Earlier this week, Panettiere’s father Skip described her as “an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her – and to the millions who watched her onscreen”.

Her father also asked that her family be given privacy as they “take time to process this unimaginable loss”.