Entertainment

Hayden Panettiere's 911 Call Recording Released to the Public

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 15, 2026•2 min read

A 911 call recording released by CBS News on October 14, 2026, captures the rescue efforts for Hayden Panettiere, who was found unresponsive in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026, before being pronounced dead.

Key Facts

CBS News obtained and released a 911 call recording on Wednesday (14/10/2026), capturing rescue efforts for Hayden Panettiere on August 16, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina.
The caller was Zach Hickerson, the younger brother of Brian Hickerson, who found Hayden unconscious after returning from church; when asked by the operator if Hayden was breathing, he answered no.
The operator guided Zach through CPR over the phone until responders arrived; Brian reportedly administered Narcan before the 911 call was made.
Hayden was pronounced dead at the scene at 14.32 local time at the age of 36; the coroner's office ruled his death an accident caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs.
Hayden was known for the series Heroes and Nashville, as well as her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning (2026); she leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
The DEA and authorities in Los Angeles and South Carolina are still investigating the source of the drugs that contributed to his death, according to ABC News.

911 recording released to the public

The 911 emergency call recordings related to the death of actress Hayden Panettiere were released to the public on Wednesday (14/10/2026). CBS News obtained and shared the audio, which captures the moment Hayden was found unconscious in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on August 16, 2026. In the recording, the 911 dispatcher can be heard asking the caller, Zach Hickerson — the brother of Hayden's ex-boyfriend, Brian Hickerson — whether Hayden was still breathing. Zach replied that he did not think so, while Brian shouted no. Zach said he had just returned from church when he found Hayden. The dispatcher then guided him through CPR over the phone, providing step-by-step instructions until first responders arrived at the scene.

Narcan doesn't work, a life cannot be saved

According

Coroner: accident, toxic effects of drugs

The Greenville County coroner's office ruled Hayden's death an accident caused by the toxic effects of fentanyl, 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol, and quetiapine, with no signs of contributing trauma. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid about 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Hayden was known for the film Remember the Titans and the series Heroes and Nashville. In her memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning (2026), she openly recounted her struggles with opioid and alcohol addiction as well as postpartum depression. She is survived by an 11-year-old daughter, Kaya. According to ABC News, citing anonymous sources, the DEA and authorities in Los Angeles and South Carolina are still investigating which drugs contributed to her death and where they came from.