Wladimir Klitschko says family in 'profound shock and grief' after Hayden Panettiere's death

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has publicly mourned the death of actress Hayden Panettiere, saying his family is experiencing "profound shock and grief". Panettiere, known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, died on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36.

Police said there were no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. However, audio from emergency dispatchers indicated crews responded to a report of cardiac arrest and worked to resuscitate her following a possible overdose. The Greenville County Coroner's Office confirmed crews treated her for cardiac arrest and that an autopsy showed no signs of trauma, though the official cause of death has not yet been determined. Panettiere had struggled with substance abuse issues for years.

Klitschko and Panettiere met around 2009, got engaged in 2013, and welcomed their daughter, Kaya, the following year. The couple never married and later separated. In her autobiography, published earlier this year, Panettiere wrote that she suffered from postpartum depression and heavy drinking after Kaya's birth, leading Klitschko to ask her to sign over custody when their daughter was three. She described it as one of the most painful experiences of her life, though she maintained a strong bond with her daughter.

In his tribute, Klitschko pledged to always speak of Panettiere with respect to their daughter and extended condolences to her parents, friends and fans. Tributes have poured in from colleagues, including her Nashville co-star Connie Britton and Heroes castmate Masi Oka, both of whom described Panettiere as immensely talented and warm. Justin Chatwin, her co-star in this year's film Sleepwalker, said he had noticed she was struggling during filming.