Hayden Panettiere's ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko has broken his silence following the star's sudden death at age 36.
The former heavyweight boxing champion, 50, expressed his "shock and grief" in an emotional statement he shared on social media on Tuesday morning.
Hayden, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, died in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, August 16, just one week before her 37th birthday.
Wladimir, who shared 11-year-old daughter Kaya with Hayden, posted a photo of the family alongside a heartfelt message, which read: "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."
© InstagramHe 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."
© Getty ImagesHe concluded: "Thank you to everyone who is supporting my family and expressing their sincere condolences. Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace."
When Kaya was four, Hayden relinquished primary custody to Wladimir to seek treatment for her struggles with alcohol and opioid addiction. The Heroes star has also been incredibly candid about suffering from severe postpartum depression.
© FilmMagicEarlier this year, the actress spoke with Us Weekly about building a good relationship with not only her daughter, but also Wladimir as a co-parent.
"I have an incredible relationship with both of them. I'm so grateful for Wlad. We're very close, and have had a deep friendship, along with a relationship, since I met him when I was 19," she shared.
"To see that we still have this bond and the ability to coparent and show our daughter [that] even though we're not together, doesn't mean that there's a lack of love here, and it doesn't mean that you're unsafe," she added.
Hayden's cause of death
© Getty ImagesHayden's representative confirmed her death in a statement to HELLO! "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," it read.
It added: "An investigation is ongoing and cause of death has not yet been determined."
Hayden's father, Skip, added in a statement: "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. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."
© Getty ImagesHayden's official cause of death has yet to be determined, but authorities have confirmed that there were no "signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances."
On Sunday, Hayden was found by police in her Greenville apartment after they received a call reporting that the actress was "unresponsive" and in "cardiac arrest."
According to the 911 recording, the paramedics tried to resuscitate her, yet ultimately pronounced her dead at 2:32 p.m.
