New 911 Call Details Emerge in Hayden Panettiere's Death
New details are emerging about the final hours before Hayden Panettiere's death, along with fresh reflections on the actress's private struggles in the months leading up to it.
What the 911 Call Revealed
According to 911 dispatch audio obtained by multiple outlets, an acquaintance of Panettiere called 911 at 1:51 p.m. Sunday from an apartment at Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, South Carolina, reporting an unresponsive woman in cardiac arrest. A paramedic could be heard on the dispatch audio referencing a possible overdose as CPR was performed on scene.
The Greenville Police Department said officers and EMS personnel responded within minutes and administered medical assistance, including advanced cardiac life support, a treatment that adds medication, breathing tubes and heart rhythm monitoring on top of standard CPR. Panettiere was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m.
It remains unclear who placed the 911 call. Panettiere had flown to South Carolina from Los Angeles on Saturday with her on-and-off boyfriend, actor Brian Hickerson, though authorities have not confirmed whether he was the one who reported the emergency. Police said the preliminary investigation has not indicated any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. The Greenville County Coroner's Office is scheduled to perform an autopsy Monday to determine an official cause and manner of death.
Gayle King Reflects on Their Final Interview
Panettiere's death has also prompted reflection from those who spoke with her recently. On "CBS Mornings" Monday, anchor Gayle King discussed her final interview with the actress in May, conducted ahead of the release of Panettiere's memoir, "This Is Me: A Reckoning." King said Panettiere was "clearly still struggling" during that time, calling the news of her death "heartbreaking."
King recalled a conversation with Panettiere off-camera that day, saying the actress told her she felt she was "in a good place." According to King, Panettiere also opened up about giving up custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her former fiancé, boxer Wladimir Klitschko, telling King it was one of the hardest decisions she'd ever made but one she believed was ultimately best for her daughter.
A Memoir That Detailed Years of Addiction
Panettiere's memoir, released in May, offered an unusually candid look at her struggles with addiction, including her account of being given amphetamines at age 15 and later developing an addiction to alcohol and the anti-anxiety medication Klonopin that intensified after she experienced postpartum depression. She wrote that a doctor had warned her she would be dead within five years if she didn't stop drinking.
Panettiere had previously spoken about giving Klitschko full custody of their daughter in 2018 so she could focus on her sobriety, telling People in 2022 that despite the difficulty of that period, she felt she had earned "a second chance."
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.