Preliminary Autopsy Results for Hayden Panettiere Released, Narcan Found on Scene: Reports

Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

A preliminary autopsy report for Hayden Panettiere revealed that the actress was treated for cardiac arrest before she was pronounced dead, and signs of drug overdose treatment were found on the scene, although it has not yet been confirmed that was for her.

Panettiere died on Sunday in an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina where she was staying with her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson. The on-and-off-again couple had flown from Los Angeles to South Carolina the day before. The apartment reportedly belongs to Hickerson’s brother, according to TMZ.

The star of popular television shows like Heroes and Nashville and movies like the Scream and Bring It On franchises started her career at just 11 months old in commercials before several roles on soap operas. She had been frank about her struggles with addiction and postpartum depression following the birth of her daughter, Kaya, with Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko, sharing her story in her memoir, This is Me: A Reckoning and in media interviews.

Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed “with profound sadness” the “tragic passing of our beloved Hayden” in a statement late Sunday evening, calling his daughter “an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen.”

Two ambulances responded to the scene on Sunday and rolled out two stretchers, suggesting more than one person was at the apartment and in medical distress, TMZ reported, citing law enforcement sources. Both ambulances left without a patient inside.

A recording of the dispatch call obtained by TMZ showed that Panettiere was being treated on the scene for cardiac arrest, CPR was being administered, and an “overdose” was suspected. She was pronounced dead on the scene at 2:32 pm ET.

A follow up report by TMZ cited local sources in Greenville who said Narcan, a nasal spray used to combat the effects of opioid overdoses, was found in the apartment, on a mattress.

Because two ambulances were dispatched to the apartment, it is not known if the Narcan was used on Panettiere or another person. TMZ’s sources added that epinephrine was used at the scene; this is a medically-administered adrenaline used to treat conditions including cardiac arrest, asthma, and anaphylaxis.

Fox News Digital reported that the preliminary autopsy reports for Panettiere “found no signs of trauma that contributed to her death.”

Both the Greenville County Coroner’s Office and Greenville City Police Department are investigating Panettiere’s death.

The coroner released a statement confirming she had been treated for cardiac arrest.

“First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest,” the statement said. “EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM.”

“At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,” the statement added. “The cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies. This investigation remains active and ongoing. No further details are available for release at this time.”

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