Sophia Bush Mourns the Death of Dan Fredinburg: He Was "One of The Great Loves of My Life"

Google executive passed away Saturday morning after a devastating avalanche

By Mike Vulpo Apr 25, 2015 10:25 PMTags
Sophia Bush, Dan FredinburgJeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Google executive Dan Fredinburg is among the more than 10 people who died in a Mount Everest Avalanche.

His sister Megan confirmed the news on Instagram Saturday afternoon with an emotional post.

"I regret to inform all who loved him that during the avalanche of Everest early this morning, our Dan suffered from a major head injury and didn't make it," she wrote. "We appreciate all of the love that has been sent our way thus far and know his soul and his spirit will live on in so many of us."

Fredinburg's ex-girlfriend Sophia Bush also reacted to the news on social media with a heartfelt message to his family.

"There are no adequate words. Today I find myself attempting to pick up the pieces of my heart that have broken into such tiny shards, I'll likely never find them all," she wrote. "Dan Fredinburg was one-of-a-kind. Fearless. Funny. A dancing robot who liked to ride dinosaurs and chase the sun and envision a better future for the world. His brain knew how to build it. His heart was constantly evolving to push himself to make it so."

There are no adequate words. Today I find myself attempting to pick up the pieces of my heart that have broken into such tiny shards, I'll likely never find them all. Today I, and so many of my loved ones, lost an incredible friend. Dan Fredinburg was one-of-a-kind. Fearless. Funny. A dancing robot who liked to ride dinosaurs and chase the sun and envision a better future for the world. His brain knew how to build it. His heart was constantly evolving to push himself to make it so. He was one of my favorite human beings on Earth. He was one of the great loves of my life. He was one of my truest friends. He was an incredible brother, a brilliant engineer, and a damn good man. I'm devastated and simultaneously so deeply grateful to have known and loved him, and to have counted him as one of my tribe. I was so looking forward to our planned download of "all the things" when he got home. I am crushed that I will never hear that story. I am crushed knowing that there are over 1,000 people in Nepal suffering this exact feeling, knowing that they too will never hear another tale about an adventure lived from someone that they love. Disasters like this are often unquantifiable, the enormity is too much to understand. Please remember that each person who is now gone was someone's Dan. Please remember that our time on this Earth is not guaranteed. Please tell those you love that you do. Right now. This very minute. And please send a kiss to the sky for my friend Dan. His energy is so big and so bright, and it's all around us, so put some love toward him today. And then hug your loved ones again. #goodbyesweetfriend #savetheice #Nepal

A photo posted by Sophia Bush (@sophiabush) on

She continued, "He was one of my favorite human beings on Earth. He was one of the great loves of my life. He was one of my truest friends. He was an incredible brother, a brilliant engineer, and a damn good man. I'm devastated and simultaneously so deeply grateful to have known and loved him, and to have counted him as one of my tribe."

The Chicago P.D. star and Fredinburg started dated in March 2013 before calling it quits around February 2014. Both parties agreed the split was amicable and they remained friends after. 

In fact, when the Google employee faced danger in a separate avalanche, it was Bush who alerted fans that he was a-okay.

"It was obviously really scary for all of us who love him and who love everyone on the trip," she told E! News. "It's a tight community."

Day 20: Saving ice on top of Kala Patthar. Everest Basecamp in the background is a climate change hotspot. #Savetheice

A photo posted by Dan Fredinburg (@danfredinburg) on

While family and friends try to cope with the news, many will remember Fredinburg for all his wonderful attributes both on and off the snow.

"Please send a kiss to the sky for my friend Dan. His energy is so big and so bright, and it's all around us, so put some love toward him today," Bush shared with her followers. "And then hug your loved ones again. #goodbyesweetfriend #savetheice #Nepal"

She added, "Please remember that our time on this Earth is not guaranteed. Please tell those you love that you do. Right now. This very minute."

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the avalanche.