Wladimir Klitschko has spoken out following the death of his ex-fiancée, actress Hayden Panettiere, at the age of 36. The former couple share a daughter, Kaya, who was just three when Hayden signed full custody over to Wladimir. He then moved their child to his native Ukraine amid Hayden's battle with postpartum depression and addiction.
Klitschko's Emotional Instagram Tribute
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, August 18, to acknowledge her death, he shared a sweet snap of the family in happier times. He accompanied it with a deeply moving caption which read: "My family is going through a time of profound shock and grief...The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply. She left this world far too soon. Hayden was, although no longer my partner, an important part of my life and the mother of our daughter, Kaya... She built an incredible career through immense talent, while also facing the darker sides of a very demanding industry. Nothing will erase the times we shared or the place she had in our lives..."
He continued: "To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was...I extend my deepest condolences to Hayden’s parents, her friends, and her fans, who are also grieving today. Young and talented people like Hayden should not leave this world so soon...I ask everyone to please respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say...Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences...Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace," he concluded.
Details of Her Death
Emergency services were called for a person in "cardiac arrest" before they arrived at Hayden Panettiere's home on Sunday, August 16. They responded to the report of an unresponsive woman at Judson Mill Lofts on Easley Bridge Road, South Carolina at 1:51 pm. The 911 call was reportedly made by an unidentified acquaintance. According to dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE, officials were also heard discussing an "overdose" and "cardiac arrest" around the time of Panettiere’s death.
Preliminary autopsy results, the Greenville County Coroner's Office said, revealed no signs of trauma that contributed to her death. It read: "First responders and Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene and located a female in cardiac arrest...At autopsy, no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death." They added that her 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," the coroner's office added.
Panettiere's father asked for privacy "as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."
