Audio from a frantic 911 call released by ABC News and CBS News captures Zach Hickerson attempting to revive actress Hayden Panettiere after finding her unconscious in a South Carolina apartment on Aug. 16. The seven-minute recording details Hickerson performing chest compressions under the guidance of a dispatcher while his brother, Brian Hickerson, administered Narcan.
Zach Hickerson told the 911 operator that he arrived at the residence in Greenville after returning from church and discovered his brother and Panettiere inside. "He woke up, and his girl ... she’s unconscious," Zach said during the call. When asked if Panettiere was breathing, he replied, "No, I don’t think so." The dispatcher instructed him to lay Panettiere flat on her back and begin CPR, walking him through chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. "We’re going to do this 500 times or until help can arrive," the dispatcher said, according to ABC News.
In a statement to TMZ, Zach Hickerson confirmed that he called 911 after he and Brian tried to wake the actress. "I immediately called 911, and Brian gave her Narcan," he said. Narcan is a medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Hickerson added that they jointly performed CPR while the 911 call remained on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived.
The Greenville County Coroner's Office stated that a 911 call was received regarding a reported cardiac arrest at 701 Easley Bridge Road in Greenville at approximately 1:51 p.m. on Aug. 16. First responders found Panettiere in cardiac arrest and initiated advanced cardiac life support measures, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m.
An autopsy conducted by a Board Certified Forensic Pathologist found no signs of trauma that contributed to the death. The cause of death was ruled as the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine, with the manner of death classified as an accident. The coroner’s office noted that Panettiere, 36, of California, was found unresponsive inside the residence where she had been temporarily staying.
TMZ reported that Zach Hickerson traveled with Panettiere from Los Angeles the day before she was found unresponsive. Brian Hickerson confirmed to police that he was in a relationship with the actress at the time of her death. The pair had briefly broken up in 2022 but rekindled their romance the following year. Fox News learned that the Drug Enforcement Administration was contacted and is assisting with the investigation.