The heartbroken mother of Australian motivational speaker Kerwin Rae has broken her silence over his tragic passing to address rumors about the circumstances that led to his death.
In a statement posted to social media over the weekend, Rae’s family announced that the bodybuilder and business coach had passed away last Friday and described their “unimaginable sense of loss.”
Rae, from Byron Bay in northern New South Wales, toured Australia and amassed millions of followers on social media doling out advice on success, goals, relationships and communication.
The cause of death has not been revealed, but an associate said Rae had previously experienced mental health battles and kidney problems.
In an emotional interview, Rae’s devastated mother Elizabeth told Daily Mail Australia she hopes fans keep him in their thoughts and don’t believe everything they read.
“People are speculating online, but it’s none of their business, may he rest in peace,” he said.
‘People release things for their own ego and it totally disgusts me that their self-esteem is so low!’
She also paid a moving tribute to her son and reflected on a touching Mother’s Day acknowledgment he wrote to her years before his death.
Kerwin Rae (pictured left) with his heartbroken mother Elizabeth. He died at the age of 50 last Friday.
Mr. Rae was a successful businessman, entrepreneur, investor and international speaker.
“I have received many tributes from all over the world who have told me how many thousands of lives he changed,” he said.
‘He was kind, generous, he left me a proud mother.
“He was true to himself and fought until the end.”
Through tears, Mrs Rae reflected on the heartfelt tribute he paid her on social media in 2021, thanking her for all the good she had done for him throughout his life.
“That’s the kind of person she was: not just acknowledging me but all the mothers,” she said.
In a statement announcing his death, Rae’s family said: “Kerwin was a force of nature, there are countless stories to tell and so many words that could describe the epic human being he was, but right now we are too overwhelmed to express them.” .
“To all who had the privilege of knowing him, whether as a friend, colleague, mentor or family member, please keep this extraordinary soul in your thoughts and hearts.”
He leaves behind his sons Noah, 10, and Jonah, 2.
A precious Mother’s Day tribute written by Kerwin for her mother Elizabeth
Mr. Rae’s website said he had helped “more than 100,000 businesses, in 154 different industries, in 11 countries around the world, with his revolutionary, relentless** approach to business growth and personal transformation.”
The website said Rae had failed almost every subject in school and had not read a book cover to cover until she was 23.
Rae struggled with addiction and had six near-death experiences, including a stroke that nearly killed him.
As a teenager, he took up martial arts and became a bodybuilder, which led to work in the security industry.
He escorted and provided personal protection to Bon Jovi, U2 and Madonna when they toured Australia.
He then started working in nightclubs and tragically became addicted to speed.
In his 20s and 30s, Mr. Rae established many business ventures and then in 2009 founded his business consulting company based on education, training and support.
Kerwin as a young man and with his mother Elizabeth in Queensland
Responses to the family’s post on social media expressed shock at Mr Rae’s death.
‘THAT! OMG I’m so sad I wanted to meet you so bad. Thank you for helping me through dark times,” one wrote.
‘Surely not! “This is really heartbreaking.”
‘Kerwin, from me to you, mate, you helped shape me plain and simple.
‘You have been one of the leading communicators and coaches in this country who I have always put on a pedestal,’ wrote another.
‘What a loss to the world! “His family must be devastated, as should everyone he worked with,” wrote a third.
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