911 call released after actress Hayden Panettiere's death

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 21:57 · Archive

Actress Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive in South Carolina on 16 August and died despite CPR attempts.

Hayden Panettiere was found unconscious at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, on the afternoon of 16 August. She was pronounced dead at the scene despite advanced cardiac life support measures. She was 36.

Zach Hickerson, the brother of Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson, discovered her after returning from church. The 911 call obtained by CBS News captures Hickerson telling the dispatcher Panettiere was not breathing. The dispatcher instructed him to perform CPR and guided him through chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until emergency services arrived. Hickerson also told TMZ that Brian Hickerson gave Panettiere Narcan, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, after finding her.

An autopsy found Panettiere's death was accidental, caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. No signs of trauma were discovered. Panettiere had spoken openly about her struggles with substance abuse. In her 2026 memoir 'This Is Me: A Reckoning', she wrote about her experience with addiction, physical abuse, postpartum depression and recovery.

How it is being reported

• 911 call shows Hayden Panettiere was given CPR on day she diedZach Hickerson, the brother of Hayden Panettiere's on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, called 911 and attempted CPR on the actress before she was declared dead.CBS News · 14 Oct, 21:36
• Listen to Hayden Panettiere 911 call as Bryan Hickerson’s brother desperately tries to save actress’ lifeThe "Heros" alum tragically died on Aug. 16.New York Post · 14 Oct, 20:16

In this story: Hayden Panettiere · Zach Hickerson · Brian Hickerson · Greenville · South Carolina

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem