Brian Hickerson administered Narcan to Hayden Panettiere after she was found unconscious at a Greenville, South Carolina, Airbnb on the day she died, according to a statement from his brother, Zach Hickerson.
The 36-year-old actress was pronounced dead on Sunday, 16 August 2026, after dispatch audio referenced an apparent overdose and cardiac arrest. However, authorities have not determined her official cause of death.
Panettiere and Brian had travelled to South Carolina the day before her death. Brian's reported use of Narcan indicates the opioid-overdose reversal medication was available at the property, although it remains unclear when or how it was obtained. IBTimes UK cannot independently verify Zach's account of the events leading up to Panettiere's death.
Chaotic Rescue Attempt After Hayden Panettiere Was Found Unconscious
Zach Hickerson said he went to the Airbnb after not hearing from the pair that morning. He had attended church and exchanged messages with Brian about plans for lunch and indoor golf.
When calls and texts went unanswered, he drove over and used the building code, though he did not have the door code for the unit itself.
'I knocked loudly which apparently woke Brian up from a nap they were both taking on the pull out couch bed in the living room,' Zach said in his statement. 'When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious.'
What followed was a frantic effort to save her. Zach said he immediately called 911 while Brian administered Narcan. The brothers then performed CPR together with the emergency dispatcher on speakerphone until firefighters and EMS personnel arrived.
'I immediately called 911 and Brian gave her Narcan. We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived. At that point we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life,' Zach said.
Paramedics were unable to revive her. The Greenville County Coroner's Office said Panettiere was found in cardiac arrest. An autopsy found no signs of trauma or foul play, while her cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation, including toxicology testing.
DEA Joins Investigation Into Hayden Panettiere's Death
The Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the investigation into Panettiere's death, according to multiple reports. The Greenville Police Department remains the lead investigative agency, with the DEA assisting.
Federal agents could examine the source of any drugs involved and whether federal drug laws were violated. However, authorities have not publicly detailed the DEA's specific role in the investigation.
Brian Hickerson reportedly provided responding officers with a bag of medication Panettiere had been taking, according to a police report released on 18 August. Reports also said Narcan and a dispensing device were found at the property.
Zach addressed the speculation swirling around the case in his statement. 'There are a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling.
The truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation. And that is important because the people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth.'
He continued, 'At this time, I want to clarify my involvement in an effort to keep the focus on the fact that we lost one of the most precious individuals on this earth and to allow those that cared about her to mourn without additional noise, chaos, and misinformation being created and propagated by the media as well as the public.'
Director Says Intervention Was Discussed Before Hayden Panettiere's Death
Concerns about Panettiere's sobriety had reportedly surfaced before her death. Griff Furst, who directed her in the 2025 film A Breed Apart, said she was 'fighting to stay sober' during production.
Furst said her team later discussed staging an intervention after filming wrapped. He agreed to participate, though, to his knowledge, it never happened. 'I said yes, and that intervention did not happen, at least not that I'm aware of, and it wouldn't have been appropriate for me,' Furst said.
The director added that Panettiere 'deserved better company' during that period and discussed what he said he had observed when Brian Hickerson was around her.
'All I know about that is what we observed and wrote down at the time that it happened, with her boyfriend Brian Hickerson,' he said. Brian's attorney, Sloan Ellis, released a statement on his behalf amid renewed attention on Hickerson and his past legal troubles.
'Out of respect for Hayden's loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time,' the statement read.
Zach said he is 'beyond heartbroken and devastated by this tragic and traumatic loss.' He described Panettiere as one of his dearest friends, saying he had loved and cared about her for eight years.
'Out of respect for her loved ones, the speculation and sensationalism of her death needs to end until the facts can be released from the investigation,' he concluded.
Panettiere's official cause of death has not been determined. Although emergency dispatch audio referenced an apparent overdose and Brian reportedly administered Narcan, toxicology results and the wider investigation remain pending. IBTimes UK cannot independently verify the Hickerson family's account of events.
