Actress Hayden Panettiere dies at 36 after cardiac arrest

Actress Hayden Panettiere died at 36 on August 16, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. Emergency services responded to her residence following a report of cardiac arrest. Despite resuscitation efforts, she was pronounced dead at 2:32 PM.

The 911 call came from the residence where the actress was staying at 1:51 PM. According to El Heraldo, citing police reports, a friend found the artist unconscious and requested assistance. Paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene. International media reported references to a possible overdose in the emergency audio, as cited by El Financiero. Efforts to restore her vital signs were unsuccessful.

The Greenville County Coroner's Office completed the autopsy on August 17, 2026. The examination revealed no signs of trauma to the celebrity's body. However, additional studies are required to determine the formal cause of death. CNN reported that routine toxicological tests will take several weeks to deliver definitive results.

The Greenville Police Department has ruled out initial indications of violence or suspicious circumstances at the scene. The investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing. Her father, Skip Panettiere, expressed gratitude for the expressions of affection and requested privacy for the family.