Jansen Panettiere, the brother of actress Hayden Panettiere, was discovered dead at the age of 28

Jansen Panettiere, the brother of actress Hayden Panettiere, was discovered dead at the age of 28.

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Actress Hayden Panettiere is still mourning the loss of her brother Jansen who died in February aged 28.

On what would have been his 29th birthday, the Nashville alum paid tribute to him in a touching Instagram post.

“Happy Birthday little brother,” she captioned a throwback photo of the two on Christmas day as children. “I miss you everyday. I’ll love you forever ❤️”

Jansen, just like his older sister, was also part of the film industry. Among the rest, he appeared on Even Stevens, The Walking Dead and Racing Stripes.

The news of his passing shocked many. His friends discovered his lifeless body after he failed to show up for a meeting.

Reports are that Jansen’s buddies “raced to his home” after he missed the meeting he had booked. Upon arriving to his residence, one of his friends discovered Jansen “sitting in a chair, unresponsive,” so he dialed 911 and began CPR.

“Though it offers little solace, the Medical Examiner reported Jansen’s sudden passing was due to cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), coupled with aortic valve complications,” the family said in a statement.

“Jansen’s heart could be seen in his eyes, and his charm in his brilliant, engaging smile; his soul in his masterful and revealing paintings, and the joy of life in his dry wit,” the statement continued. “His charisma, warmth, compassion for others, and his creative spirit will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of all whom he encountered.”

At the time of his passing, a source told ET, “Hayden is absolutely heartbroken. She loved her brother unconditionally and the two shared a special bond.”

She and her brother were very close and shared a special bond.

She often shared photos of the two having fun together. Days before his loss, Hayden shared a black-and-white photo of herself giving him a haircut. They were both laughing.

Even before experiencing this tragic loss, Hayden had been struggling with addictions she gradually opened about.

In 2018, she gave the custody over her daughter to her ex-husband.

“The best thing for my kid was to make sure she was okay, take care of myself, and make sure I could be a good mom to her. And that sometimes means letting go,” she said at the time.