‘We are completely devastated’: Vanessa Bryant breaks silence following death of husband and daughter

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant, is now speaking out after the horrific helicopter crash that killed her husband and 13-year-old daughter Gianna.

Posting a family photograph to the image sharing site Instagram, Bryant broke her silence, first thanking friends, family, and fans for the outpouring of love and support since the tragic crash on Sunday morning.

“My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them,” she wrote. “We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.”

Kobe Bryant and his daughter were two of the nine people killed when his private helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California. Bryant also offered her thoughts to the families of the victims.

“We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.”

She wrote about the shock of the crash, calling the pain unbearable but also mentioning the deep love many had for her husband and daughter.

“There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.”

In the days following the crash, Bryant has remained silent on social media, making her Instagram account private. But on Wednesday she made her heartfelt post, saying life without Kobe and Gianna is impossible to imagine.

“I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever.”

While the family deals with their grief, Bryant is also asking fans to respect their privacy.

“Thank you for sharing your joy, your grief and your support with us. We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality.”

She ended off her post by stating donations made to the MambaOnThree Fund will go directly to the families affected by the tragedy, and thanking fans for their love, support, and prayers.

“Thank you so much for lifting us up in your prayers, and for loving Kobe, Gigi, Natalia, Bianka, Capri and me. #Mamba #Mambacita #GirlsDad #DaddysGirls #Family”