Hayden Panettiere’s final moments have been revealed by the brother of her on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson, who described the heartbreaking discovery that left the actress fighting for her life inside a South Carolina rental.

Zach Hickerson has spoken publicly about what happened after he, Brian and Panettiere had been planning to spend Sunday together, saying he called 911 while Brian administered Narcan after the 36-year-old actress was found unconscious.

The statement offers the clearest account yet of the moments before the former Heroes star was declared dead in Greenville, South Carolina.

Zach, 38, said he wanted to “clarify my involvement” after speculation began surrounding Panettiere’s sudden death.

According to his account, he had attended church on Sunday and was planning to meet up with Panettiere and his brother for lunch before the group went indoor golfing.

As he left the service, Zach said he called and texted both of them but received no response.

He assumed they were asleep.

When he arrived back at the Airbnb, however, he did not have the door code and was unable to enter the property.

Zach said he knocked loudly, eventually waking Brian, who had been taking a nap with Panettiere on the pull-out couch in the living room.

It was then that the brothers realized something was seriously wrong.

“When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious,” Zach said.

He immediately called emergency services.

Brian, meanwhile, administered Narcan, a medication commonly used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

The brothers then attempted to save Panettiere themselves while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

“I immediately called 911 and Brian gave her Narcan,” Zach said. “We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived.”

He said the brothers watched as emergency workers attempted every available lifesaving measure.

“At that point we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life,” he added.

Despite those efforts, Panettiere was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:31 p.m., according to a police report.

The actress had been found unresponsive at the Judson Mill Lofts in Greenville, where she had been staying with Brian.

The circumstances of her death remain under investigation.

Authorities have not officially determined that an opioid overdose caused her death, despite the discovery of Narcan at the property.

On Monday, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a post-mortem examination had been completed and found no signs of trauma on Panettiere’s body.

Chief deputy coroner Shelton England also cautioned that it was too early to draw conclusions about the cause of death.

The investigation is therefore continuing as authorities await further information.

Zach has urged people to refrain from making assumptions while investigators work to establish what happened.

He said he was “beyond heartbroken and devastated” by Panettiere’s death and described the actress as one of his “dearest and closest friends” after knowing her for approximately eight years.

His comments also offered a direct plea to those following the story.

Zach asked for an end to the “assumptions, speculations and accusations” surrounding the actress’s death, insisting that the truth would emerge once police had completed their investigation.

His statement comes as questions have inevitably surrounded Brian Hickerson, Panettiere’s former partner with whom she had an on-and-off relationship.

Brian, 37, has not publicly provided a detailed account of the incident himself.

Instead, his attorney addressed the actress’s death on his behalf.

“Hayden’s death remains under investigation and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” attorney Sloan Ellis said.

“As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”

The lawyer added that, out of respect for Panettiere’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there would be no further comment at that time.

Panettiere and Hickerson had a complicated history, but Zach emphasized the closeness of his own relationship with the actress.

His description of her as a dear friend adds another personal dimension to the tragedy, particularly as her family and friends attempt to understand the circumstances surrounding her sudden death.

The actress had reportedly travelled from Los Angeles to South Carolina with Brian approximately one day before she died.

Hickerson is originally from Greenville, although the purpose of their trip has not been publicly established.

The discovery of Narcan inside the rental has fueled speculation about an overdose, but officials have not confirmed that as the cause of death.

Narcan, also known as naloxone, is used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by blocking opioids from binding to receptors in the brain.

Its presence at the property is therefore a significant detail in the investigation, but it does not by itself establish what caused Panettiere’s death.

According to 911 audio, Panettiere suffered cardiac arrest.

Emergency responders found the actress unresponsive and attempted CPR before she was pronounced dead.

The news sent shockwaves through Hollywood, where Panettiere had built a career as a child star before becoming internationally recognized for roles including Claire Bennet on Heroes and Juliette Barnes on Nashville.

Her death was announced by her family, who remembered her as an “incredible light” who brought “immeasurable love and joy” to those around her.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, asked for privacy as the family attempted to process what he described as an “unimaginable loss.”

Panettiere’s death also prompted an emotional tribute from her former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, with whom she shared her daughter, Kaya.

The former heavyweight boxing champion posted his message on what would have been Panettiere’s 37th birthday.

“Today is Hayden’s birthday,” he wrote. “Instead of celebrating the way we had planned, today we celebrate her life, her spirit, and the love she brought into this world.”

Klitschko thanked Panettiere’s fans, friends and supporters for the outpouring of affection following her death.

He also urged people to focus on kindness and love rather than the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

“If you’re reading this, I ask just one thing: Even if only for a moment, think about LOVE,” he wrote. “Reach out to a friend. Forgive someone. Be kind. Love is a superpower. Use it.”

He concluded with a simple message to the actress: “Happy Birthday, Hayden. You are loved, you are missed, and you will never be forgotten.”

Panettiere and Klitschko shared Kaya, who was born during their relationship.

In 2018, when their daughter was three, Panettiere agreed to Klitschko having full custody amid her struggles at the time, and he subsequently moved Kaya to Ukraine.

The actress had spoken publicly over the years about difficult periods in her personal life, but those close to her have continued to remember her for her warmth, talent and devotion to those she loved.

Now, her final hours are at the center of an investigation that authorities have stressed is still ongoing.

For Zach Hickerson, the memory is of an ordinary Sunday that suddenly turned into an emergency.

He had expected to meet his brother and Panettiere for lunch and an afternoon of indoor golf.

Instead, he found the actress unconscious and was forced to make the emergency call that would ultimately mark the final moments of her life.

As investigators continue examining the circumstances, Panettiere’s family and friends are left mourning a woman whose life ended suddenly at just 36.

For now, officials have confirmed there were no obvious signs of trauma and have not established an official cause of death.

The answers may come only after the remaining medical and investigative work is completed.

Until then, those closest to Panettiere are asking for privacy, compassion and restraint as they wait to learn exactly what happened to the actress in the final hours of her life.