Newly released emergency audio has revealed the desperate attempts made by Zach Hickerson, the brother of actress Hayden Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, to save her life after she was found unconscious at a South Carolina rental property in August 2026.
The recording, obtained by CBS News and ABC News, captures Zach’s distress as he asks a 911 dispatcher for help and follows instructions to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, was 36 when she died.
911 Recording Captures a Desperate Call for Help
According to reports, Zach returned from church on August 16 and tried contacting both his brother and Panettiere. After receiving no response to his calls and messages, he drove to the property where they were staying.
Because he did not know the access code, Zach knocked on the door. After entering the apartment with Brian, the brothers attempted to wake Panettiere and discovered that she was unconscious.
During the emergency call, the dispatcher asked whether she was breathing. Zach said he did not believe she was, prompting the operator to guide him through the next steps.
The dispatcher instructed him to lay Panettiere flat on her back and begin CPR while emergency responders made their way to the scene.’
Newly released 911 audio captures the desperate moments Zach Hickerson, the brother of actress Hayden Panettiere’s former boyfriend Brian Hickerson, discovers actress Hayden Panettiere unresponsive and a dispatcher guides him through CPR. Panettiere’s death has been ruled an accident caused by the toxic effects of multiple drugs, including fentanyl, officials said.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 14, 2026
Dispatcher Guides CPR Efforts
The recording captures the operator explaining the procedure and encouraging Zach to continue until professional medical assistance arrived.
According to Zach’s subsequent account to TMZ, Brian administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, while the brothers attempted CPR. They continued their efforts until firefighters and emergency medical personnel arrived and took over.
Despite these attempts, Panettiere could not be revived. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office confirmed that she was found in cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at approximately 2:32 p.m. on August 16.
The release of the recording has brought renewed attention to the final emergency response and the efforts made to save the actress.
Hayden Panettiere’s Cause of Death Confirmed
In September 2026, the Greenville County Coroner’s Office determined that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of multiple substances, including fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine. Her death was classified as accidental.
Authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding her death, with the Drug Enforcement Administration also becoming involved. As reported in the coverage of the 911 recording, neither Brian nor Zach Hickerson had been charged in connection with her death.
Remembering the Actress Behind Heroes and Nashville
Panettiere became widely recognised for playing Claire Bennet in Heroes and Juliette Barnes in Nashville. Her career also included appearances in Remember the Titans and the Scream franchise.
The actress had previously spoken publicly about her experiences with addiction and postpartum depression. She also addressed difficult decisions involving her daughter, Kaya, who lived with her father, former fiancé and Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Panettiere had explained that seeking treatment was an important part of her recovery, pushing back against suggestions that she had willingly abandoned her daughter.
The newly released 911 recording offers a distressing account of the attempts to save her, while her death has renewed public discussion about addiction, recovery and the importance of compassionate support.
FAQs
1. What did the 911 call reveal about Hayden Panettiere’s death?
The 911 recording reportedly captured Zach Hickerson seeking emergency help after finding Hayden Panettiere unconscious. He followed the dispatcher’s instructions while CPR was attempted.
2. What was the official cause of Hayden Panettiere’s death?
The coroner ruled her death accidental, attributing it to the toxic effects of multiple substances, including fentanyl and alprazolam.
