The brother of Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend broke his silence on Friday, revealing new details about the discovery of the 36-year-old actress unconscious and the desperate attempts to save her.
Zach Hickerson said he had plans with his brother, Brian Hickerson, and Panettiere on the day of the actress’ death. He said he was driving home from a Sunday church service to the Airbnb in Greenville, South Carolina, where Panettiere and Brian were staying. The three were supposed to leave for lunch and indoor golf.
When Zach arrived, he said he knocked loudly and woke his brother. Zach and Brian then realized Panettiere was unconscious. Zach said he called 911 while his brother administered Narcan, a drug meant to reverse an opioid overdose, to Panettiere.
“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 recalled, according to TMZ. “When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious.”
“I immediately called 911 and Brian gave her Narcan,” he said. “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 he had become close with Panettiere over the years his brother dated the actress, calling her one of his “dearest and closest friends.” He added that he’s “beyond heartbroken and devastated” by her death.
The “truth” will soon come out, Zach said, noting that he wants the “assumptions, speculations, and accusations” surrounding Panettiere’s death to stop.
As highlighted by The Daily Wire on Tuesday, responding officer Matthew Bryan said in his report that Zach was clearly distraught as first responders worked on Panettiere. Officer Bryan noted that Brian did not appear to be visibly upset until Panettiere was officially declared dead.
Panettiere had a tumultuous relationship with Brian. In her memoir, she said her on-again-off-again beau physically and emotionally abused her. Brian was arrested several times and at one point pleaded no contest to two felony charges related to an assault against the actress, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Brian released a statement about Panettiere’s death through an attorney on Thursday.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed. As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play,” Sloan Ellis from the Ellis Hinton law firm said, per TMZ. “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”
Panettiere, who leaves behind one daughter, publicly discussed her battle with addiction in the years preceding her death. Her cause and manner of death remain undetermined as the investigation continues, and authorities say an autopsy found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said earlier this week that it joined the investigation and is assisting Greenville police.
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