Grey's Anatomy fans will have to say goodbye to McSteamy! The infamous Mark Sloan, played by actor Eric Dane, is reportedly leaving the hit ABC series, much to the dismay of female fans everywhere.

We last saw Sloan in a hospital bed close to death at the end of season 8 and, although creator Shonda Rhimes hints that this isn't the last we are going to see of the dreamy doc, a statement from Dane himself proves otherwise.

"I am extremely grateful to everyone at Grey's , ABC and Shondaland for the experience and memories I have had over the course of this run. It has been wonderful to work alongside and learn from a creative force such as Shonda Rhimes," Dane says in a statement to TV Line.

At the end of season 8, Dane's character was clinging to life after a horrible plane crash that killed his love, Lexie (Chyler Leigh). E! Online spoke with Rhimes after the finale, who said, "They're still out there in the forest, and we don't know if they are going to be OK," she teased. "We left it open for a reason becauseI hate to say this, but just because you saw people alive at the end of the finale doesn't mean they're going to be alive when the season starts up. We are completely jumping off into the unknown next season."

Rhimes also claims that Dane's decision to leave the show was a tough one. As "one of the most beloved characters on the show," Dane had many conversations with Rhimes before they finally decided that it was time for McSteamy's story line to end.

The ninth season of Grey's Anatomy begins Sept. 27 on ABC. We can only imagine what will happen this season!

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Shocker! Eric Dane leaving 'Grey's Anatomy'