911 Audio Reveals Desperate Attempts to Save Hayden Panettiere After Overdose

Newly released 911 audio has shed light on the desperate efforts made to save the life of actress Hayden Panettiere following a drug overdose.

Panettiere, 36, was pronounced dead on August 16 at an Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina. Her death was later confirmed to be accidental, resulting from the toxic effects of multiple drugs, including fentanyl.

The audio, obtained by CBS, begins with Zach Hickerson, who was present at the scene with his brother Brian, Panettiere's boyfriend, exclaiming distress as he spoke to dispatchers. Zach reported finding Panettiere unconscious after returning to the apartment.

He informed the dispatcher that Panettiere was not breathing, prompting instructions to begin CPR. The dispatcher asked if a defibrillator was available, to which Zach questioned the likelihood of finding such equipment in an apartment complex.

During the call, one of the brothers is heard saying, "I know how to do this! How many times!" amidst the CPR instructions, with shouts of "come on!" also audible in the background.

Emergency services arrived shortly after and took over the resuscitation efforts, which ultimately proved unsuccessful. According to the Greenville Police Department's incident report, Zach stated that Brian administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, and that they performed CPR while on the phone with 911.

Narcan was reportedly found on a mattress in the loft apartment where Panettiere was staying, though the 911 call audio does not explicitly mention its administration. Panettiere is survived by her daughter, Kaya, whom she had with ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko.

Panettiere, known for her roles as cheerleader Claire Bennet in the superhero drama Heroes and country singer Juliette Barnes in Nashville, had previously struggled with postpartum depression and addiction. In 2018, she granted full custody of Kaya to Klitschko, who moved their daughter to Ukraine.