The YouTube star and fox rescue activist Mikayla Raines has died after taking her own life, her husband shared.
Raines’ husband broke the news
The activist’s husband, Ethan, confirmed news of her death in an emotional video uploaded to Instagram on Monday, June 23.
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He shared that the 29-year-old, who founded the animal rescue service Save a Fox, died by suicide “a couple days ago.”
They tried to revive her
The husband shared that he had to perform CPR on his unconscious wife for 15 minutes until first responders could arrive, with paramedics having then tried to revive her.
“She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer and she ended her life,” Ethan shared in the video.
Her death strongly affected her family
Ethan went on to add that his wife’s death is “the biggest loss of my life.” He shared that her daughter Freya was “heartbroken” at her mother’s death.
In the caption of the video, he wrote, “We have suffered a loss that is unimaginable.”
The family is determined to keep her dream going
“Mikayla was truly the most amazing and inspiring individual I have ever known, and not having her here makes everything feel empty. I feel broken,” Ethan added in the caption.
“But I will continue her dream, and I hope to have your support going forward so that we can do good in her name.”
Mikayla worked to rescue animals
Mikayla Raines founded her Minnesote-based non-profit Save a Fox in 2017 when she was only 20 years old.
Her husband noted in the video that she was “one of the most selfless people I have ever known” as she worked to rescue animals.
But she faced a lot of hardships in her private life
While overcome with emotion, Ethan said, “As many of you know she was on the autism spectrum and while that made her life very difficult, it allowed her to hyperfocus on one thing, and that one thing was obviously animals.”
He noted that Raines was “so sensitive to everything,” which was “a double-edged sword.”
Her sensitivity made things harder on her
Ethan explained of the activist who had garnered over 2.4 million subscribers on YouTube, “On one hand, it allowed her endless empathy for those in her care. But it also means that she took everything negative to heart.”
She was subject to online bullying
Raines’ husband said she and her animal rescue non-profit had allegedly been subject to an “online bullying campaign” from people she knew, including some who worked at “other animal sanctuaries.”
Although she initially “pushed through” the hate, things got to her when people “she considered close friends” started joining in on the hate.
Ethan explained she ‘couldn’t bare’ it
“[Mikayla] felt as if the entire world had turned against her,” Ethan added. “She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer. And she ended her life. And it breaks my heart that is selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her.”
He ended the video asking people who felt “lost and hopeless” to “reach out to someone” as well as advising people to “look out” for their loved ones.
