Klitschko reacts to Panettiere's death: 'Nothing will erase the times we shared'
Volodymyr Klitschko and Hayden Panettiere (photo: Getty Images)
Hayden Panettiere's former fiancé, Ukrainian boxer Volodymyr Klitschko, has publicly reacted to her sudden death for the first time. He shared a family photo and spoke about their daughter, Kaya-Evdokia, according to Klitschko's Instagram.
How Klitschko reacted to Panettiere's death
He stressed that despite the end of their relationship, Hayden was an "important part" of his life and the mother of their daughter.
"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," the athlete wrote.
Volodymyr also reflected on the actress's professional career and the challenges she faced throughout her life.
"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," Klitschko said.
Panettiere with Klitschko and their daughter (photo: instagram.com/klitschko)
He also spoke about their daughter Kaya, who is now 11 years old.
"To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was," he wrote.
The Ukrainian boxer also expressed his condolences to Panettiere's parents, friends and fans.
"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," he said.
He asked the public to respect his family's privacy during this difficult time.
"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," he added.
At the end, Volodymyr thanked everyone who is supporting his family and expressing their condolences.
"Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace," he concluded.
Panettiere and Klitschko (photo: RBC-Ukraine collage)
What is known about Hayden Panettiere's death
Panettiere died on August 16 at the age of 36. New details about the circumstances showed that the actress was found in cardiac arrest at an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina. Medics pronounced her dead at the scene after resuscitation efforts.
The preliminary autopsy found no signs of trauma that could have caused the tragedy. The cause of death has not yet been officially determined. Authorities confirmed that there were no signs of foul play.
Audio recordings of emergency dispatch calls released by the media reportedly included the words "overdose" and "CPR in progress."
Panettiere was best known for her roles in the TV series Heroes and Nashville. She also appeared in the films Scream 4 and Scream VI.
Hayden and Volodymyr were together from 2009 to 2018 and were even planning to get married. They welcomed their daughter in 2014, and the boxer was later granted full custody of her.
