Newly obtained 911 audio recordings have shed light on the final moments and frantic response before actress Hayden Panettiere was pronounced dead at a rental apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. The recordings, secured through a Freedom of Information Act request by media outlets including ABC News and CBS News, capture the tense minutes when emergency dispatchers walked bystanders through life-saving measures.
Panettiere passed away on August 16 at the age of 36. According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, her official cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose resulting from the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, Alprazolam, Methocarbamol, and Quetiapine.
The 911 Call and Frantic CPR Efforts
The seven-minute emergency call was placed by Zach Hickerson, the brother of Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. According to investigative reports and audio transcripts, Zach arrived at the apartment after church and found his brother asleep, while Panettiere was discovered unconscious on a sofa bed.
"I walked in after church to my brother and his girlfriend’s apartment, and he woke up, and his girl… she’s unconscious," Zach told the dispatcher during the call.
When the dispatcher asked if the 36-year-old television star was breathing, Zach responded, "No, I don’t think so." The dispatcher immediately instructed the brothers to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), providing step-by-step guidance on chest compressions and ventilation while counting out loud to maintain rhythm.
Audio captures the growing panic inside the residence as the brothers attempted to revive her. At one point, a voice can be heard asking, "What do we do!?" followed by urgent pleas and shouts of encouragement before emergency medical services arrived on the scene to take over.
Scene Details and Ongoing Investigations
According to police reports and investigative documents obtained by local media, first responders initiated advanced life support measures upon arrival, but Panettiere could not be revived. She was pronounced dead at approximately 2:32 p.m. on August 16.
Brian Hickerson reportedly told investigators that he had administered multiple doses of Narcan-a nasal spray designed to reverse opioid overdoses-before his brother called 911, but her condition did not change. Police reports noted that a bottle of fentanyl-laced pills, an unidentified white powder, Adderall, and other prescription items were discovered in the apartment.
The Greenville City Police Department, alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, focusing primarily on the source of the substances involved.
Public Scrutiny and Personal History
The release of the emergency audio adds to public scrutiny surrounding Panettiere’s final days and her complex history with Brian Hickerson. The couple began dating in 2018, and their turbulent relationship involved multiple documented legal incidents regarding domestic disputes. Earlier in the year, Panettiere released her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in which she detailed her personal struggles with addiction and past abusive relationships.
As federal and local authorities continue their review, family members and representatives have navigated various estate and legal matters, keeping public attention focused on the legacy of the late actress, who rose to fame as a child star in projects like Heroes and Nashville.
