Brian Hickerson administered CPR and Narcan to his girlfriend, actress Hayden Panettiere, after finding her unresponsive, according to Brian's brother, Zach Hickerson. Zach Hickerson told TMZ that he went to the Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, where Panettiere and Brian were staying.
After waking Brian from a nap, Zach Hickerson claimed they discovered Panettiere unconscious. While Zach Hickerson called emergency services, Brian administered Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. Zach stated that speculation and accusations are circulating, but the truth will emerge as authorities complete their investigation.
"The people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth," Zach Hickerson told the outlet, emphasizing his desire to clarify his involvement to allow loved ones to mourn without additional "noise, chaos, and misinformation."
Zach Hickerson recounted the morning of Panettiere's death, stating he attended church and had exchanged messages with Brian about meeting for lunch and playing indoor golf afterward. When he could not reach either Brian or Hayden by phone, he drove to the Airbnb, assuming they had fallen back asleep. He noted he knew the building code but not the specific Airbnb door code. His loud knocking woke Brian, who was napping with Panettiere on a pull-out couch in the living room. Upon attempting to wake Panettiere for lunch, they realized she was unconscious.