Matthew Perry death: Star ‘was not in water long before being found in jacuzzi’

Fresh details surrounding Matthew Perry’s death have been revealed, as photos emerged of the star dining with a mystery brunette 24 hours before his tragic end.

Matthew Perry’s body wasn’t in his jacuzzi for very long before he was found dead by his assistant from an apparent drowning, sources say.

Perry was only briefly alone when he died and only in the water for a short time, it now appears, which adds another layer of tragedy to the shock death of the beloved TV star.

Police sources told TMZ that Perry’s body was “not waterlogged” when first responders arrived at his Pacific Palisades home and declared him dead at the scene.

Matthew Perry’s death has shocked Hollywood. Picture: AFP

The star had returned from a pickleball match at Riviera Country Club and sent his assistant on an errand to pick up reading glasses and an iPhone, leaving a small window for the death to occur.

No foul play was suspected and no illicit drugs found at the scene aside from his prescription medications.

Perry had long battled a devastating addiction to drugs and alcohol. In late 2022, he claimed to have been sober for 18 months after spending two weeks fighting for his life when his colon burst from opioid overuse.

The actor had battled drug and alcohol issues for decades. Picture: AFP

Nicorette patches and Nicorette gum were found in the home, suggesting that Perry was serious about quitting smoking and getting healthy.

Nevertheless, TMZ reports that Perry’s death is being investigated by LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division, which is standard procedure for high-profile cases.

PERRY DINED WITH MYSTERY BRUNETTE 24 HOURS BEFORE HIS DEATH

Meanwhile, photos emerged showing Perry appearing in good spirits while out at lunch with a woman 24 hours before his death.

The photos show the Hollywood star dining at the Hotel Bel-Air on Friday afternoon local time with a mystery brunette.

TMZ reports Perry and his guest were seated at the table for more than an hour and left together.

The photos were taken on October 27 at about 2.30pm and the next afternoon Perry was dead.

MOMENT ASSISTANT FOUND PERRY

Chilling new details emerged on Tuesday about the shocking moment when Perry’s assistant frantically tried to save him after finding his body underwater.

The assistant, who had returned to the house after running an errand for the actor, sprung into action and lifted Perry’s head out of the water, dragging his body to the edge of the hot tub in a desperate bid to save his life.

Tragically, by the time the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at the residence, Perry was already dead.

Matthew Perry’s final Instagram post showed him in his spa. Picture: Instagram

Captain Erik Scott, of the Los Angeles Fire Department, said: “Los Angeles City Firefighters responded (and) found an adult male unconscious in a stand-alone hot tub.

“A bystander had brought the man’s head above the water and gotten him to the edge, then firefighters removed him from the water upon their arrival.

“A rapid medical assessment, sadly, revealed the man was deceased prior to first responder arrival.”

Matthew Perry died at age 54 in his home. Picture: Denise Truscello/WireImage

While the name of the assistant who found Perry’s body in the jacuzzi has not been revealed,

the employee is said to be new to the role.

Perry’s long-time personal assistant Briana Brancato, who was also a very close friend, had reportedly recently parted ways to become a personal trainer.

As fans reeled from the shock of Perry’s death, Friends The Reunion was the most watched title on BINGE on Sunday as viewers flocked to remember the beloved star.

‘PAIN I’D NEVER KNOWN’: MATTHEW PERRY’S EX SPEAKS OUT

Matthew Perry’s devastated former fiancee Molly Hurwitz will take care of the star’s beloved dog, Alfred, it has emerged.

Hurtwitz penned a touching and revealing tribute to the late actor, opening up about the impact he had on her life.

She also acknowledged how the star, who had battled drugs and alcohol addiction for decades, had “caused her pain like I’d never known”.

Perry revealed in his 2022 memoir how he proposed to the literary agent during a Swiss rehab stay in Switzerland in 2021, but they split six months later.

Shockingly, Perry claimed in his book that he only proposed to Hurwitz because he was lonely and under the influence of drugs.

Molly Hurwitz, ex partner of actor Matthew Perry. Picture: Instagram

Perry wrote that once he sobered up and returned to Los Angeles, he was shocked to learn he was engaged and living with Hurwitz and her dogs.

At the time of their break-up, Perry told People magazine that he wished the best for Hurwitz.

“Sometimes things just don’t work out and this is one of them,” Perry said.

Hurwitz paid tribute to the tragic Friends star, describing him as brilliant but complicated.

Matthew Perry proposed to Molly Hurwitz when he was in rehab.

“He would love that the world is talking about how talented he was. And he really was very talented,” Hurwitz, 32, wrote on her Instagram.

“As the Friends reunion was approaching, we rewatched the show together. ‘F***, I was so good!! … See what I did there???’ We rewound and studied scenes.

“Our respect and appreciation of humour is something that connected us. Being with him as he rediscovered his brilliance was magical.”

Matthew Perry with his dog, Alfred.

She wrote: “But, I obviously knew that man in a very different way, too. While I loved him deeper than I could comprehend, he was complicated, and he caused pain like I’d never known.

“No one in my adult life has had a more profound impact on me than Matthew Langford Perry. I have tremendous gratitude for that, for everything I learned from our relationship.”

She went on to mention Al Anon, a resource for families and friends who have been impacted the addiction of a loved one.

“Matty, I feel relief that you are at peace. Sincerely, Moll-o-Rama(...fication),” she signed off the loving post.

‘WE ARE A FAMILY’: FRIENDS CAST RELEASE JOINT STATEMENT

Castmates of Friends star Matthew Perry have told of their “unfathomable loss” in their first official comments since the much-loved actor’s shock death.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer paid tribute to the 54-year-old, who they considered “family”, in a brief statement, noting they would “say more, as and when we are able”.

Perry, who was found unconscious at his Los Angeles home, had remained particularly close to Aniston since the hit show ended in 2004, describing how she would kindly reach out and check in on him in his darkest times.

The Friends cast were as close as family. Picture: Friends/NBC

“We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family,” their statement read.

“There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.

“In time we will say more, as and when we are able.

“For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”

PERRY’S DEATH SHOCKS THE WORLD

With his cutting-edge timing and razor-sharp wit, Perry became a global star playing the character of Chandler Bing on the smash-hit sitcom Friends, which ran for 10 years from 1994 to 2004.

The beloved star had been candid about his decades-long drugs and alcohol issues and laid bare the horrific extent of his addictions in his best-selling 2022 memoir.

Stars far and wide, including actor Hank Azaria pictured here with Perry, have paid tribute to him. Picture: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

He said his long recovery journey had left him with a sense of duty to help others battling addiction.

Sources told TMZ that Perry was sober at the time of his death and had “never been happier”, with ideas for new projects.

He was enjoying living in his hilltop LA home, which was a relatively modest property by Hollywood standards.

The star bought the $9.4 million house in August 2020 after downsizing from a penthouse and Malibu beach home.

Perry’s final, haunting Instagram post showed him relaxing in his jacuzzi while wearing headphones and enjoying the magnificent views from the property.

Originally published as Matthew Perry death: Star ‘was not in water long before being found in jacuzzi’