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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

Anne Heche: How gifted actress lost her way to cocaine as she dies after horror smash

The tragic news of Anne Heche's death has emerged after the 53-year-old star's life support machine was switched off.

On Friday morning, Anne was officially declared brain dead one week after her horror car crash, where cocaine was found in her system.

Anne's devastated family had revealed that the actress was being kept on life support in a bid to see if her organs were viable to be donated as they paid a heartbreaking tribute to the 'courageous' star following her tragic car accident.

The Six Days and Seven Nights actress had been in a coma after suffering a severe anoxic brain injury, which was caused by a sustained lack of oxygen to the brain.

Los Angeles Police Department revealed earlier this week that preliminary blood tests showed the presence of drugs in Anne's system when her Mini Cooper struck a two-storey home in the city on August 5.

Anne Heche has died at the age of 53 (AFP via Getty Images)
There were traces of cocaine found in the star's system following the horror crash (CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

LAPD spokesman Matthew Cruz confirmed the crash is being investigated as a felony driving-under-the-influence (DUI) traffic collision amid Anne's tragic condition.

The LAPD said: "This case is still an active and ongoing investigation and is currently in the process of gathering additional evidence; to include final toxicology results, and medical records from both parties involved.

"It is the intent of the investigating Detectives to present this case to the appropriate prosecuting office: the Los Angeles County District Attorney or the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office once all pertinent evidence has been gathered."

Speaking to PA, Mr Cruz added preliminary blood tests "did show signs of narcotics".

The actress suffered an incredibly traumatic childhood and turned to alcohol and drugs as an escape (AFP via Getty Images)

Anne's family released a statement on Thursday, revealing the actress has suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and wasn't expected to survive the trauma.

They said in a statement: "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."

They continued to say there are plans in place to possibly donate the star's organs, adding: "It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she is being kept on life support to determine if any 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.

The Hollywood actress has tragically passed away at 53 (Getty Images for Mammoth Media Institute)

"She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light."

The tragic incident occurred a week ago on the morning of August 5 in the Mar Vista neighbourhood of Los Angeles. It is reported that Anne crashed her car twice - first into an apartment complex and then a second time into another home.

Anne had enjoyed a stellar acting career before she lost her way with cocaine and got behind the wheel of her car on August 5.

Despite the fact that she made it big in Hollywood, Anne was never able to forget about her traumatic upbringing, and was widely praised for speaking openly about her mental heath issues.

The actress had previously been public about turning to drugs and alcohol to escape trauma of the sexual abuse she claims she suffered as a young child - abuse perpetuated by her father, who died in 1983.

Anne starred alongside Harrison Ford in Six Days and Seven Nights in 2004 (Unknown)

When Anne was thirteen, her father passed away due to Aids, and three months later, her elder brother passed away in a car crash - although Anne had claimed that his tragic death was down to suicide.

Anne's family also faced immense struggle when they dealt with homelessness in her younger years.

Born into a fundamentalist methodist family, her clan had to move 11 times due to strained finances.

In a 2001 with ABC News, the actress opened up one of her coping mechanisms following her traumatic childhood.

"I had a fantasy world that I escaped to. I called my other personality Celestia. I believed I was from that world. I believed I was from another planet. I think I was insane," she admitted.

Anne was labelled 'crazy' in headlines amid her mental health crisis (AFP via Getty Images)

Despite Anne's harrowing confessions about the hardship she faced as a child and teen, as she became more and more famous, her health crisis in 2002 was largely treated as a joke by the press and her large fanbase.

As the Los Angeles Times wrote in 2004: "Four years ago, you could have called Anne Heche crazy. Why not? That's what the tabloids took to calling her, and it's what she called herself."

Following her mental health crisis, Anne released a memoir which was titled 'Call Me Crazy' as she appeared to reclaim the label given to her by society and the TV and film industry.

The actress admitted that she turned to drugs and alcohol because her mental health had deteriorated as a result of her incredibly difficult childhood, which was supplemented by the pressure of being an actress in Hollywood.

*Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com, message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.

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