Hayden Panettiere’s ex fiancé, pro boxer Wladimir Klitschko, is opening up about the “profound shock and grief” he and his family are experiencing after the actor’s unexpected death at just 36.

Panettiere and Klitschko share an 11-year-old daughter, named Kaya. Klitschko has primary custody of Kaya, who mostly lives in Europe with her dad.

“The announcement of Hayden’s tragic death saddens me deeply,” the boxer wrote. “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 shared, before making a public promise to their daughter.

“To our daughter Kaya, I will always speak of her mother with respect and make sure she remembers the person she was,” he said.

He signed off his moving messages by extending his “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, before asking people to “respect our family’s feelings and privacy during this incredibly difficult time. For now, this is all I wish to say.”

“Rest easy, Hayden. May you find eternal peace,” he said in closing.

Panettiere and Klitschko had an on-again, off-again relationship that started in 2009. The two dated from 2009 to 2011 before splitting and later reconciling in 2013, when they got engaged. They welcomed Kaya in 2014, before officially calling off things in 2018.

The “Heroes” actor was found “unresponsive” in reported cardiac arrest in Greenville, South Carolina, at 1:51 p.m. on Sunday, when emergency personal responded, according to a report from the Greenville County Coroner’s Office.

“EMS personnel initiated advanced cardiac life support measures; however, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and the individual was pronounced deceased at 2:32 PM,” the report said, adding that an autopsy was performed on Monday.

“At autopsy no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death,” the coroner’s office said, adding that “the cause and manner of death remain pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.”

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