Wladimir Klitschko breaks silence with emotional tribute to mother of his child Hayden Panettiere

In a moving tribute to his ex-partner, Wladimir Klitschko has expressed his "profound shock" at the death of actress Hayden Panettiere.

Panettiere, who shared 11-year-old daughter, Kaya, with Klitschko, was found unresponsive on Sunday (August 16) at an apartment complex where she had temporarily been staying. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Greenville Police in South Carolina said there were not "any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances". The Greenville County Coroner's Office said crews treated a woman in "cardiac arrest" and her autopsy showed "no signs of trauma".

No official cause of death has yet been given.

Panettiere's former co-stars, peers, and friends have posted tributes to the award-winning actress on social media. On Tuesday (August 18), former partner Klitschko issued a statement on social media.

"Our family is going through a time of profound shock and grief," he said.

"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."

Klitschko posted this picture alongside the statement. Image credit: X/@Klitschko

Panettiere, who starred in TV shows such as Heroes and Nashville, entered into a relationship with Klitschko after the pair met at a book launch party in 2009.

They split in 2011, with long-distance playing a role in the decision, but they rekindled their relationship two years later and became engaged in October 2013. They welcomed daughter Kaya into the world in December 2014.

The couple split up for good in 2018 and co-parented Kaya. Then, amid her struggles with post-partum depression in 2018, Panettiere made the “heartbreaking” decision to relinquish full custody of Kaya to Klitschko as she recovered.

Speaking on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast in May, Panettiere said she was initially against the idea when her ex-partner suggested it.

“That was incredibly difficult. The fact that my child wasn’t going to be with me all day every day was just ... you can’t put words to it,” she said.

Panettiere says she changed her mind after realising how stressful it was for Kaya to travel back and forth between the US and Ukraine, where Klitschko lived.

Despite living apart for years, she said that her bond with Kaya remained "incredibly strong" in her memoir, writing: "Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life.

"It’s hard to describe the layers of emotion - including sadness, resentment, and anger - I’ve felt because of it.

“I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom."