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Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko has spoken out following the sudden death of his ex, Hayden Panettiere.
The pair, who got engaged in 2013, had an on-off relationship for almost a decade. Their daughter, 11-year-old Kaya, was born in 2014 and lives in Europe with her father.
"Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief," Klitschko wrote in an Instagram post on Aug. 18, alongside an old photo of the three of them together, smiling at the beach.
"The announcement of Hayden's tragic death saddens me deeply," he continued, adding that the 36-year-old actress "left this world far too soon."
Klitschko, who holds full custody of Kaya, wrote that while Panettiere was "no longer" his partner, she played "an important part" in his 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.
The circumstances surrounding the "Nashville" star's death remain under investigation by the Greenville Police Department and Greenville County Coroner's Office.
