Hayden Panettiere, known for her roles in ‘Remember the Titans,’ ‘Heroes,’ and ‘Nashville,’ was found lifeless at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16. Zach and Brian Hickerson discovered her. A police report and 911 call, acquired by CBS News, confirm these details. Despite efforts with advanced cardiac life support, she was declared dead at the scene at age 36.
The 911 call disclosed that Zach Hickerson tried to resuscitate Panettiere with CPR before emergency medical services arrived. Zach, who came over after church, mentioned during the call that he was uncertain if a defibrillator was available. The operator guided him on CPR techniques, instructing on chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
‘Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication, was given to Panettiere by Brian Hickerson, as Zach Hickerson reported to TMZ.’
An autopsy later classified her death as accidental, citing drug toxicity from substances including fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine as the cause. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office provided this information.
Panettiere was open about her addiction struggles, speaking to People magazine in 2022 about her opioid and alcohol dependencies, which began in her teenage years. Her memoir, ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning,’ written in 2026, delved into these issues, including addiction, physical abuse, postpartum depression, and her journey to recovery. She told Gayle King from CBS News in May that her goal was to help others by sharing her story, emphasizing the importance of confronting imperfections and living truthfully.
During the interview, Panettiere expressed her focus on personal improvement, stating, ‘I’m better, healthier than I’ve been in a long time,’ highlighting the supportive role of a great therapist in her progress.
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