20 October 2023 , 06:58
521
0
Influencer mum Raechelle Chase, whose fitness tips were followed by millions, has died.
Bodybuilder and fitness writer Raechelle - who had more than 1.4 million online followers - leaves behind five children, including seven year old twins.
News of her death has sparked a wave of sympathy from heartbroken fans. Leading the tributes, her eldest daughter Anna penned: "She was supportive, kind-hearted and always had the best advice for us. She was a wildly driven woman with ambition who has inspired millions of people around the world."
Raechelle had five children with her husband Chris Chase, who she separated from in 2015 after 14 years together. As well as becoming a hugely popular online influencer, Raechelle was also the first New Zealander to qualify for an Olympia body building event and graced the cover of countless magazine covers.
Raechelle's cause of death has yet to be announced but a friend described the news as 'so sudden and so unexpected.'
NYPD Blue star Austin Majors found dead at homeless shelter aged 27
Influencer and mum-of-five Raechelle Chase has died
The mum's eldest daughter has paid a tribute describing her as 'kind-hearted and always having the best advice'Friend Keith O'Connell wrote: "Not going to lie, very few things in my life hit me as hard as your passing... You had so much left to live. So much love to give," he wrote.
"You were, still are, and always will be one of the kindest beautiful souls I will ever have experienced."
In her last social media post, shared on September 30, Raechelle wrote a thoughtful message about pain and growth. She told her followers: "Growth can be painful, change can be painful but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong."
The influencer had five children with husband Chris Chase who she was married to for 14 years before they split in 2015A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice confirmed Raechelle's death was before the Coroner.
”Given the recent nature of the death, no further information is available at this stage,” a spokesperson told New Zealand site Stuff.
In 2016, Raechelle wrote an article for Stuff where she spoke about her experience leaving a “toxic and abusive” relationship following her split from her husband.
“The relationship I was in taught me many things about what I don't want, and what I need to steer very clear off. It wasn't just me that suffered, it was my entire family,” the mum wrote.
"So if you know you are in an abusive relationship and you don't have the courage to leave, do it for your children. Grab hold of whatever you need long enough to survive crawling out of that hole because I promise you it will be worth it."