Greenville, S.C. – A Freedom of Information Act request obtained by ABC News has released a seven‑minute 911 audio file that captures the frantic moments when emergency responders arrived at the apartment where actress Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive on Aug. 16. The recording, made by Greenville County EMS, shows the caller—identified as the brother of Panettiere’s former boyfriend—being guided through CPR steps by a 911 operator before paramedics began advanced cardiac life support.
Caller’s desperate plea
The call opens with the caller shouting, “Oh, God, oh, my God—do you do CPR or something?” He explains that he had just walked in after church to his brother’s apartment and found his brother’s girlfriend unconscious. The 911 operator immediately asks, “Is she breathing?” to which the caller replies, “No.” The operator then instructs the caller to lay the victim flat on her back, clear the area around her head, and begin ventilation.
Guidance and chest‑compression count
Throughout the call, the operator counts chest compressions aloud, urging the caller to continue “one, two, three, four…”. The operator tells the caller they will perform “500 compressions or until help can arrive,” emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Within minutes, EMS crews arrived on scene and initiated advanced cardiac life support measures, according to Greenville County officials.
Official findings
Greenville County Coroner’s Office later ruled Panettiere’s death an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and other substances. The Greenville City Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined the effort. Police reports indicate that Panettiere’s ex‑boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, was present at the apartment, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, was the individual who placed the 911 call.
Legal and privacy context
South Carolina law restricts the release of information that identifies individuals by name in FOIA requests. The audio file released does not contain any names, but the date, location, and circumstances match publicly known details of Panettiere’s death, confirming its authenticity.
Community response
Local residents expressed sorrow and concern over the tragedy, noting the importance of rapid emergency response and the dangers of opioid misuse. The release of the 911 call underscores the critical role of first responders and the need for continued public education on CPR and overdose prevention.
ABC News has reached out to a representative for Panettiere for comment; no response was received at the time of publication.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
