The son of a reformed bank robber who died at the weekend says his father’s bank accounts have been frozen, leaving him and his older brother to pay for the funeral.
Russell Manser, 56, was a convicted criminal who spent 23 years in prisons across Australia, until he turned his life around and founded the ‘Voice of a Survivor’ organization to help victims of abuse.
He died in his luxurious King Street Wharf apartment in Sydney on Saturday night.
The cause of death has not yet been made public, but there was no Suspicious circumstances and a report was prepared for the coroner.
On Tuesday, his youngest son, Bayley Manser, launched a fundraiser to “give dad the send-off he deserves and would like.”
He wrote: ‘The last thing we thought we’d do soon is set up a Go Fund Me page for our old Russell Manser’s funeral.’
“Dad’s accounts have been frozen for now, which has made life a little difficult for us boys to get this funeral off the ground financially.”
Manser used social media to speak out about the sexual abuse he suffered as a teenager in prison, to encourage others to rise above their circumstances and weigh in on high-profile criminal cases.
Russell Manser is pictured with his youngest son, Bayley Manser.
Pictured: Russell Manser in a designer clothing store in Melbourne.
He got around 300,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram when he died and often spoke to his hearing from his harborside home, or leaning on the hood of his black Mercedes Benz.
Bayley wrote, “Many of you have been asking us if there is anything you can do and the top priority for us right now is to give dad the send-off he deserves and would like.”
‘If there is anything you can contribute for Dad’s funeral and wake, our family would greatly appreciate it.
“We appreciate you all.”
The fundraiser raised about $15,000 in the first hour.
Manser first spoke about her abuse during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse; She was in prison at the time, but contacted lawyers about the violence she had suffered.
By doing so, he was able to let go of the shame and guilt he had felt for 30 years and decided to help others do the same.
She created a private company called Voice of a Survivor to advocate for victims and helped many people who suffered institutional abuse obtain compensation.
Russell Manser (pictured on Sydney Harbour) said he never thought he would end up in a penthouse in Sydney.
Russell Manser used to record videos leaning on the hood of a black Mercedes Benz.
Manser had a large stake in that company, until it went into administration last July and was replaced by a new company called Warriors Advocacy.
He also ran a podcast called The Stick Up where he interviewed people who had had difficult life experiences.
Manser could often be seen on social media standing in front of a luxury car, inside his beachfront unit, at Bondi Beach, the gym or on Sydney Harbour.
There were several videos in which he described the degrading way in which prison guards spoke to him, telling him that he would end up behind bars again and that he would be of no use.
In a TikTok video from last year, Manser stood in front of the Harbor Bridge and said he never thought he would leave Mount Druitt, the western Sydney suburb where he grew up.
“We never thought we’d never get here – sitting in a penthouse, on a dock in Sydney, on the harbour, and life is so fucking good,” he said.
Pictured: Russell Manser leaning against a luxury vehicle in a social media video.
‘You know why? Because I dared to dream. I dared to believe it was more than this and, man, life is so good.’
He captioned the clip: “From the shithouse (prison cell) to the attic.”
In another video filmed around the same time, Manser made another video with the caption “to all those prison officials who said it wouldn’t be a big deal (I know you’re watching).”
He was standing by the water in Sydney Harbor and asked his former guards: “Where do you have breakfast?” and he laughed.’
Manser’s eldest son, Ky Manser, spoke Sunday about his father’s death, saying he “can’t explain the pain” he’s going through.
“RIP dad until we meet again buddy,” he captioned a candid selfie of him with his dad. “I just lost my best friend…and I’m trying to stay strong for my little brother,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to get through to anyone, I’ve been spending time with my family and trying to come to terms with myself (right now).”