Days after Hayden Panettiere’s sudden death at 36, the brother of the late actress’s on-and-off boyfriend broke his silence.
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In a statement to TMZ, Brian Hickerson’s brother Zach detailed what he saw when he discovered Panettiere in a South Carolina rental on August 16. He pointed out that he wanted to clarify his involvement in the ordeal.
“On Sunday morning, I woke up at my Airbnb, got dressed and went to Church. I exchanged messages that morning with Brian on my way,” the statement reads. “We planned on us all getting lunch and playing indoor golf after the service.”
Following the church service, Zach attempted to contact both his brother and Hayden, but couldn’t reach either of them.
“I just assumed maybe they fell back asleep, so I drove over and went to the Airbnb,” he continued. “When I got there, I knew the code to the building but not the door code to the AirBnb. I knocked loudly, which apparently woke Brian up from a nap they were both taking on the pullout couch bed in the living room.”
However, when the brothers attempted to wake the actress, they realized she was unconscious.
“I immediately called 911, and Brian gave her Narcan,” Zach recalled. “We then jointly performed CPR while 911 was on speaker until Fire and EMS arrived. At that point, we watched as they tried every measure possible to save her life.”
Unfortunately, Hayden was pronounced dead at the scene.
“I am beyond heartbroken and devastated by this tragic and traumatic loss,” Zach added. “Hayden was one of my dearest and closest friends that I loved and cared about for the last 8 years.”
Brian Also Released a Statement Through His Lawyer
Meanwhile, Brian submitted a statement to Fox News Digital through his lawyer.
“Hayden’s death remains under investigation, and it is important to allow that investigation to proceed,” his statement reads. “As has been publicly reported, police confirmed there were no signs of foul play.”
Brian then concluded the statement by adding, “Out of respect for Hayden’s loved ones and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment at this time.”
Brian and Hayden first became romantically involved in 2018. The relationship quickly turned tumultuous, with Brian being arrested multiple times for domestic violence. She was granted a restraining order against him in 2021. However, the actress revealed a couple of years later that she had forgiven him, and they had become friends.