Actress Hayden Panettiere was given Narcan by her boyfriend Brian Hickerson after being found unconscious in a South Carolina rental home, his brother Zach Hickerson has revealed.
Zach Hickerson gave a statement to TMZ to clarify his involvement in the situation, explaining that he called 911 while his brother administered the opioid overdose reversal medication at an Airbnb in Greenville on Sunday.
Emergency responders and firefighters arrived at the scene as the brothers jointly performed CPR while 911 operators stayed on speakerphone. Emergency workers tried every measure possible to save the 36-year-old star before pronouncing her dead at 2:31 p.m.
Discovery at the Greenville Rental
Zach, 38, explained that he, his 37-year-old brother Brian, and Panettiere had planned to get lunch and go indoor golfing after he attended a Sunday church service.
He called and texted both Panettiere and his brother as he was leaving church, but did not hear back from either of them.
Assuming the couple were sleeping, Zach drove back to the Judson Mill Lofts rental in Greenville, South Carolina, but could not get inside because he lacked the door code.
He knocked loudly on the door, which woke up Brian from a nap the couple were taking on a pull-out couch bed in the living room.
When the brothers went inside and attempted to wake Panettiere for lunch, they realized she was completely unresponsive.
"I immediately called 911 and Brian gave her Narcan. We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived," Zach said. "At that point we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life."
Zach said he is "beyond heartbroken and devastated" by Panettiere's death, describing the actress as one of his "dearest and closest friends" over the past eight years and someone he loved and cared for deeply.
He urged an end to the "assumptions, speculations and accusations" surrounding her passing, adding that the "truth" will emerge once police complete their investigation.
Police Investigation and Medical Evidence
A Greenville police officer who responded to the rental home on Sunday afternoon was met by the brothers and observed paramedics performing CPR on an unresponsive woman, according to a police report.
"The patient did not seem to have any obvious physical reasons to be unresponsive," the officer noted in the report.
On Monday, the Greenville County Sheriff's Office announced that a post-mortem examination had been completed and found no signs of physical trauma on the star's body.
Chief deputy coroner Shelton England told the Daily Mail that further tests are required to establish the official cause of death, noting it was too early to discuss the suspected drug overdose theory.
Authorities revealed on Monday that Narcan nasal spray was discovered on a mattress inside the South Carolina rental property.
Narcan contains naloxone, an active ingredient that blocks opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, morphine, and prescription painkillers from binding to brain receptors.
The nasal medication allows a person to resume breathing within two to three minutes of administration and remains active in the body for 30 to 90 minutes.
Legal Statement and Travel History
On Thursday, Brian Hickerson addressed the actress's death through his legal team at the Ellis Hinton law firm.
"Hayden's death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed," said his attorney, Sloan Ellis. "As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time."
Panettiere and Hickerson had flown together from Los Angeles to South Carolina just one day before she died. Public records show that Hickerson is originally from Greenville, though the purpose of their visit remains unclear.
Tributes From Wladimir Klitschko and Family
Details about Panettiere's final hours came shortly after her ex-fiancé, 50-year-old former boxer Wladimir Klitschko, paid tribute to the actress on Friday on what would have been her 37th birthday.
Sharing a photograph of the star, Klitschko wrote: "Today is Hayden's birthday. Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world."
"I want to thank all of Hayden's fans, friends, and everyone who has reached out for the incredible outpouring of love and support," Klitschko added. "At a time filled with so much sadness, your kindness has reminded me that there is still so much good in humanity."
"If you're reading this, I ask just one thing: Even if only for a moment, think about LOVE. Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind. Love is a superpower. Use it. Happy Birthday, Hayden. You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten."
Panettiere and Klitschko share a daughter, Kaya. In 2018, when Kaya was three years old, Panettiere signed full custody over to Klitschko amid her battle with postpartum depression and addiction, after which Klitschko relocated their daughter to his native Ukraine.
Panettiere was widely known for her breakout screen roles, including playing Claire Bennet on the NBC superhero drama series Heroes and Juliette Barnes on Nashville.
A representative for Panettiere previously confirmed her death, stating her family would remember her as an "incredible light" who brought "immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her."
Her father, Skip Panettiere, also released a statement following her death: "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her - and to the millions who watched her onscreen."
He requested privacy for the family as they "take time to process this unimaginable loss."
