Heche is survived by her two sons, Homer and Coley. Source: Shutterstock.
Anne Heche has passed away aged 53 after doctors turned off her life support following a serious car crash last week.
Using a representative, her family explained that she suffered “a severe anoxic brain injury” and was being kept alive by life support but knew the actress would not make it.
Doctors declared her brain dead on Friday, which is constituted as death in California.
“We want to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers for Anne’s recovery and thank the dedicated staff and wonderful nurses that cared for Anne at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital.
“Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne Heche suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition. She is not expected to survive.”
The US actress had been in a serious vehicle crash after her car smashed into a house, sending the car and house into a blaze.
Her sons, Homer and Coley Lafoon shared their sadness over the death of their mother.
“After six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness. Hopefully, my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom,” said Homer.
Anne Heche after crashing into a house. Never seen anything quite like that. #AnneHeche pic.twitter.com/fLEYC7BlgU
— 𝗜’𝗠 𝗢𝗡 𝗔 🆁🅰🅽🆃 ➪ (@OnARantMan) August 6, 2022
Heche’s publicist said that the actress has previously made it known that she wanted to be an organ donor with doctors currently undergoing testing to ensure that her “organs are viable”.
“Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit. More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life’s work — especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love.
“She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light.”
Investigations are underway to determine whether she was under the influence while driving and police later confirmed that she tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl.
However it will take several weeks of toxicology testing to determine whether these drugs were present in her system while driving or they were administered in hospital.
The owner of the house- Lynne Mishele- escaped without injuries but authorities deemed the property to be unliveable.
A GoFundMe page was created with over USD$135,000 raised in just over five days.
Anne Heche was in several hit films from the 90s including I Know What You Did Last Summer, Six Days, Seven Nights and Return to Paradise.
She was also in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres from 1997 -2000, who recently posted on twitter saying the news of her former partner’s death was “ a sad day”.
