Actress Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36 following cardiac arrest at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures, including advanced cardiac life support, chest compressions, and CPR, but she was pronounced dead at 2:31 p.m. or 2:32 p.m.
Hayden Panettiere Dies at 36 Following Cardiac Arrest in South Carolina
Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed her passing in a statement, saying, It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden.
He added, 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.
Investigation and Autopsy Findings
Authorities stated that the investigation into Panettiere’s death is active and ongoing. According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office and local police reports, an autopsy completed on Monday found no signs of trauma or foul play that would have contributed to her death, and no official cause of death has yet been determined.
A Greenville police officer noted that the patient did not appear to have any obvious physical reasons for being unresponsive. At the scene, responding authorities found Narcan—a medicine typically utilized to quickly reverse an opioid overdose—and initial 911 dispatch calls referenced an “overdose” and “cardiac arrest” in progress. The police report indicated that Brian Hickerson produced a bag of medications that he reported Panettiere had been taking, though the specific medication list in the police report was heavily redacted.
Details From the Scene and Family Statements
At the time of the incident, Panettiere was at the South Carolina residence with her on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson. According to the police report, Brian was reportedly asleep in another room when Hayden is believed to have gone into cardiac arrest, and it was Zach Hickerson who discovered her unresponsive in a living room chair.
The responding officer observed Zach to be very emotional while emergency services worked on Panettiere, whereas Brian reportedly did not become emotional until after emergency medical personnel officially declared her deceased. Following her death, the officer escorted the brothers out of the apartment and spoke with Brian more in depth.
Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, spoke out publicly following her daughter’s death, expressing long-standing concerns regarding Brian Hickerson. This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death and that was Brian Hickerson,
Vogel told NBC News, adding that her family had been worried about him and his family for years. Vogel also noted that she believed the couple remained together at the time of her daughter’s passing.
Health Struggles and Personal Background
In the months leading up to her death, Panettiere experienced severe health issues. Her hairdresser and friend Erick Orellana told pagesix.com that she suffered from severe back pain earlier in the year that caused mobility issues so acute it was difficult for her to move her legs. She was photographed using crutches in March at Los Angeles International Airport. Another insider noted that she occasionally suffered from anxiety and took medication for it, which could sometimes impact her speech.
Panettiere had also been open about her struggles with early fame, postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter Kaya in 2014, and alcohol addiction, detailing these experiences in her book This Is Me
alongside accounts of a tumultuous relationship with Hickerson, who previously pleaded no contest to charges involving domestic abuse. The family’s tragedy follows the death of her younger brother, actor Jansen Panettiere, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 28 from a heart condition.
