Actress Hayden Panettiere died Sunday afternoon in Greenville, South Carolina, after being discovered unresponsive inside a residence, according to law enforcement sources. She was 36 years old.
A friend placed a 911 call at 1:51 p.m. Sunday reporting that Panettiere was in cardiac arrest and unresponsive, law enforcement sources told TMZ.com. The identity of the caller has not been confirmed, though authorities have not ruled out the possibility that her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson made the emergency call.
Greenville police officers and Emergency Medical Service personnel arrived quickly at the scene. Paramedics deployed advanced cardiac life support protocols in an attempt to save the actress, according to sources. These measures included specialized medications, breathing tubes, heart rhythm monitoring, and chest compressions—all building upon standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques.
Despite the extensive resuscitation efforts, Panettiere could not be revived. She was pronounced dead at 2:32 p.m., sources said.
Authorities reported no immediate signs of foul play, and the circumstances surrounding her death did not appear suspicious. The Greenville County coroner is scheduled to conduct an autopsy Monday to establish both the cause and manner of death.
Panettiere rose to prominence as a child performer in television and film. She achieved widespread recognition for her portrayal of cheerleader Claire Bennet in the science fiction series "Heroes" and later starred as country music singer Juliette Barnes in the musical drama "Nashville." Her film credits included notable roles in "Remember the Titans," "Raising Helen," "Ice Princess," and "Scream 4."
The investigation into the circumstances of her death remains ongoing as authorities await autopsy results.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
