Heath Ledger’s supermodel ex-girlfriend Helena Christensen was on her way to visit the star when she discovered he had died.

Christensen had stayed close to the Brokeback Mountain star following their brief fling last September (07), and she claims she left him a phone message and was heading to his Soho apartment when news of his death from a suspected drug overdose broke on Tuesday afternoon.

The 39-year-old tells PageSix.com, "I am just beyond sad at this point and shocked. I was on my way over to pay him a visit when I found out. I had just left him a message and heard his voice on the machine. He was such a special and genuine person, so extraordinarily talented because he was so raw and honest with his feelings.

"He was so full of life, so electric. This is immensely sad." Actress Naomi Watts, who dated Ledger from 2002 to 2004, yesterday withdrew from all Sundance Film Festival interviews and engagements after learning of the actor’s death.