The brother of Hayden Panettiere’s on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson has spoken out days after the Nashville star’s death.

Panettiere died August 16 at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina aged 36. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Zach Hickerson, 38, spoke Friday to TMZ on what would have been the Heroes star’s 37th birthday, sharing how he and Brian found Panettiere unconscious. He revealed that the trio had plans to get lunch and go indoor golfing Sunday.

“When I left church I called and texted both of them. When I didn’t reach Brian or Hayden, I just assumed maybe they fell back asleep so I drove over and went to the Airbnb. When I got there I knew the code to the building but not the door code to the AirBnb,” Zach told TMZ.

“I knocked loudly which apparently woke Brian up from a nap they were both taking on the pull out couch bed in the living room. When we went in and tried to wake Hayden up for lunch, we realized she was unconscious.”

Panettiere’s death was confirmed in a statement released by her father.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden,” Panettiere’s father, Skip, said in a statement to ABC News. “She was 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.”

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