Wladimir Klitschko has broken his silence following the death of his ex-partner Hayden Panettiere. The former heavyweight boxing world champion was once engaged to the US actress and has custody of their daughter Kaya, 11.
It was announced on Monday (August 17) that Hayden, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, had died on Sunday (August 16). The 36-year-old actress was discovered at her home in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday after officers attended the property.
Emergency Response and Post-Mortem
Emergency services were called by an acquaintance who reported that Panettiere was "unresponsive" and experiencing "cardiac arrest".
Following a post-mortem examination conducted by the Greenville County coroner's office, investigators determined that "no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death".
Tribute on X
Following the tragedy, Wladimir Klitschko, 50, has broken his silence with a moving tribute to his ex-partner posted on X (formerly Twitter). The multiple-time former world champion boxer posted: "Our 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.
"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. #WeLoveYouHayden".
Final Interview and Custody Decision
In one of her final interviews before her death, Panettiere spoke to parenting outlet Mome for its July cover. In it she discussed the life-threatening birth of her daughter Kaya, 11, and the eventual decision to give up custody to her ex-fiancé.
While battling substance addiction issues, in 2018 the actress made the decision to sign over custody of her daughter to her ex, a Ukrainian former boxer who was not living in the same country as Panettiere at the time.
She said: "It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make. I was going through a really challenging time in my life… I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be."
