Zach Hickerson’s desperate attempts to save actress Hayden Panettiere’s life were revealed in a recently released 911 audio dispatch.
A 911 call, obtained by CBS News on Wednesday, revealed that Brian Hickerson’s brother called authorities in a panic after finding the “Heroes” alum unconscious in an Airbnb in South Carolina on Aug. 16.
“Oh my God, oh my God,” Zach — who said he had just come home from church when he found her — can be heard on the call before the dispatcher asks if Panettiere was breathing. “No, I don’t think so.”
The dispatcher asked Zach to find a defibrillator, which he was unable to locate. He then confirmed that the actress was not breathing.
“OK, we need to start CPR,” the dispatcher told Zach. “I’ll tell you how to do CPR, okay? We’ll start with ventilation.”
Zach performed lifesaving measures on Panettiere until first responders arrived and took over.
The “I Love You Beth Cooper” star was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m. local time. She was 36 years old.
Additionally, a police report previously obtained by Page Six revealed that Brian, who was involved in an on-and-off relationship with Panettiere since 2018, gave officers a “bag of pills” that she was taking.
Page Six confirmed that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of 4-ANPP, fentanyl, methocarbamol, alprazolam and quetiapine.
His manner of death was ruled an accident, and “no signs of trauma were found that would have contributed to the death.”
Hayden’s death was confirmed by his father, Skip Panettiere, via a statement the same day.
“She was an incredible light and force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to everyone who knew her – and to the millions who watched her on screen,” he wrote. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Before her death, Hayden spoke candidly about her ongoing addiction to opioids and alcohol, as well as her journey with postpartum depression.
The “Nashville” alum recalled in 2015 the “really scary” and “painful” experience after giving birth to her and then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko’s now 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
“There’s a lot of misunderstanding — there’s a lot of people who think that it’s not real, that it’s not true, that it’s something that’s decided in their mind, that, ‘Oh, it’s the hormones,'” she shared on a vulnerable episode of “Live with Kelly and Michael.”
“They ignore it. It’s something completely out of control. It’s really painful and it’s really scary and women need a lot of support.”
Ultimately, Hayden’s battle with addiction led to the end of her engagement to Klitschko in 2018 and Kaya’s full custody to her ex.
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Hayden said in 2022, according to People. “But I wanted to be a good mom to her – and sometimes that means letting them go.”
According to a Greenville County coroner’s office obtained by Page Six, Hayden overdosed and entered rehab before dying.
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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