Zach Hickerson: 911 Call Audio Released in Hayden Panettiere's Death

Zach Hickerson, the brother of Hayden Panettiere's former boyfriend Brian Hickerson, can be heard on a newly released 911 call recording as he finds the actress unconscious. The audio was obtained by CBS News and described by several US media outlets on October 14. It documents the minutes during which a dispatcher guided Hickerson through resuscitation efforts.

According to authorities, the actress's death was ruled an accident. The cause was the toxic effects of several drugs, including fentanyl, CBS News reports.

What can be heard on the 911 call?

According to CBS News, Zach and Brian Hickerson found Hayden Panettiere unconscious at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on the afternoon of August 16. Page Six and TMZ, however, refer to an Airbnb in South Carolina. Zach Hickerson then called 911.

On the call, Hickerson says he had just returned from church and found Panettiere unconscious, according to Page Six and the Daily Mail. As USA Today reports, when asked, he replied that he did not think she was breathing; Brian Hickerson can be heard saying "No" in the background.

How did the dispatcher guide the resuscitation?

The dispatcher guided Zach Hickerson through chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, CBS News reports. According to the Daily Mail, the operator also asked whether a defibrillator was on site and then gave CPR instructions.

Hickerson continued the resuscitation attempts until first responders arrived, Page Six and Us Magazine both write. In the same article, TMZ also reports that the dispatcher guided Brian Hickerson through life-saving measures. The reports do not consistently indicate exactly what roles the two brothers played during the call.

How did Hayden Panettiere die?

According to USA Today, the Greenville County Coroner's Office attributed the August 16 death to the toxic effects of fentanyl and other drugs and ruled it an accident. Citing the autopsy, CBS News also lists 4-ANPP, alprazolam, methocarbamol and quetiapine in addition to fentanyl.

TMZ describes the death as an accidental overdose. Further details about the circumstances, such as the origin of the substances, are not known from the available reports.

Who is Zach Hickerson?

Zach Hickerson is the brother of Brian Hickerson, Hayden Panettiere's former boyfriend. No further information about him, such as his age or occupation, is available in the sources.

According to consistent reports, the 911 audio was obtained by CBS News and subsequently picked up by USA Today, Page Six, Us Magazine, TMZ and the Daily Mail, among others. The available reports do not include a statement from the Hickerson family or Panettiere's relatives on the release.