Home and Away actress Jessica Falkholt has had her life support switched off two weeks after being in a car crash, according to reports in Australia.
The crash, which happened in New South Wales on 26 December, also killed her parents, sister and the other driver. The actress, 29, who played Hope Morrison in the soap, had surgery after the accident but remained in a coma.
The decision to end her life support, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, came a day after her family’s funeral. Home and Away paid tribute to her on Twitter, reports BBC.
Rest in peace, beautiful Jessica Falkholt: https://t.co/uEnQsSfBXC#HomeAndAway #JessicaFalkholt pic.twitter.com/t2ViLoLkD0 — Home and Away (@homeandaway) January 11, 2018
Rest in peace, beautiful Jessica Falkholt: https://t.co/uEnQsSfBXC#HomeAndAway #JessicaFalkholt pic.twitter.com/t2ViLoLkD0
— Home and Away (@homeandaway) January 11, 2018
At the time of the accident, Network Seven, Home and Away’s broadcaster, released a statement saying: “Although her time on set was brief, once a part of the Home and Away family, always part of the family.”
Falkholt’s character first appeared when Hope and Raffy Morrison arrived in Summer Bay. Hope briefly worked at the garage, but ran away after stealing money from there and from Salt restaurant.
It emerged that her young sister Raffy – actually her cousin – was a sibling of the Morgans, so Raffy stayed in the Bay with them when Hope was jailed for her crimes.
Falkholt’s stint on the long-running series only lasted for 16 episodes and ended in November 2016. She then filmed a role in the US film Harmony, which is set for release this year.
Jessica’s parents Lars and Vivian were killed instantly in the crash and her sister Annabelle died in hospital three days later.
Vivian Falkholt’s brother Paul Ponticello spoke at the funeral, saying he thought he and his sister “would grow old together”.
Australian police are still investigating the crash, which also killed 50-year-old Craig Whitall, who was driving the other car involved.
