Newly obtained 911 audio is giving a painful close-up of the day Hayden Panettiere died. The call was made on August 16 by Zach Hickerson, the brother of her former partner Brian Hickerson, after the 36-year-old actress was found unresponsive in a South Carolina Airbnb. Dispatchers guided him through CPR after he confirmed she wasn’t breathing, and he continued until first responders arrived. Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m. local time.
Her death was later ruled accidental, caused by the toxic effects of 4-ANPP, fentanyl, methocarbamol, alprazolam and quetiapine. Panettiere had been candid about her struggles with opioid and alcohol addiction, as well as postpartum depression, at a time when many stars stayed silent. Her father, Skip Panettiere, remembered her in a statement as“an incredible light and a force of nature.”
The release of the call is adding new urgency to larger conversations around fentanyl, overdose prevention, and mental health support for new mothers. It’s also a reminder that behind every celebrity headline is a person someone was desperately trying to save.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.