Panettiere died of accidental drug overdose, says coroner

Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere's cause of death has been revealed as an accidental drug overdose, a South Carolina coroner's office has confirmed.

The US actress, who also starred in the country music drama Nashville for nearly five years, died aged 36 in Greenville, South Carolina, in August.

Greenville County coroner's office ruled the cause of death as an accidental overdose involving fentanyl as well as anti-anxiety medication, Alprazolam.

The ruling also found a muscle relaxer and antipsychotic medication used to treat major depression and other serious mental health disorders in her system.

A press statement shared this afternoon said: "The cause of death has been ruled as toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol and Quetiapine.

"The manner of death has been ruled an accident."

A post-mortem examination found "no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death".