Hayden Panettiere's Ex-Boyfriend's Brother Tried to Save Her with Narcan

Actress Hayden Panettiere died suddenly on August 16, 2026, at age 36, with her former boyfriend's brother revealing attempts to save her with an overdose medication before paramedics arrived. Zach Hickerson told TMZ he found Panettiere unconscious at her South Carolina residence, prompting his brother Brian to administer Narcan, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses. The brothers then performed CPR under emergency dispatcher guidance, but their efforts and those of arriving medics failed. Panettiere's mother, Lesley Vogel, has expressed doubts about the circumstances and urged police to investigate further. Authorities have released no details, and a toxicology report is pending, with officials noting Narcan administration does not confirm an overdose.