Celebrity4 min(s) read
Justin Bieber’s ex Sahara Ray’s final hours before she was taken off life support
Heartbreaking details of Justin Bieber's ex's final hours before life support was withdrawn have been revealed.
As previously reported, Sahara Ray, a 34-year-old Australian model and influencer, died on Sunday, October 18.
According to the Standard, Ray reportedly overdosed on fentanyl on Friday and was rushed to the hospital, where she was put on life support before being taken off.
The official cause of death has not yet been disclosed. It is not known if the reported overdose was accidental or deliberate.
Sahara's family confirmed her passing to TMZ on Monday, sharing: "She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved."
Ray shot to fame in 2016 when she was rumored to be romantically involved with the 'Baby' singer after the pair were papped on vacation in Hawaii skinny dipping.
Her mother, Gretchen Bach, told the Mail that her daughter was "an incredibly passionate and kind young woman who loved her family, fashion, her daughter, Snow, and surfing".
"We’re feeling the love that is pouring in from her cherished friends, fans and the many communities that she was part of around the world," she added.
Her friend, Sabrina Zada, also shared an emotional tribute post on Instagram, writing: "You were bigger than the whole sky @sahara_ray."
"Still will always be. I don't know what to do anymore. None of this makes sense without you. Selfishly, I just assumed you'd be here because why wouldn't somebody as beautiful, kind, funny, and interesting as you be here anymore. I'm very confused. I miss you. Please text me back and say it's a moment and nothing more," she added.
Sahara Ray's health struggles
Before her tragic death, Sahara candidly opened up about her addiction and once revealed that she was checking into a treatment center in Malibu in 2021.
"Hey, guys, I just wanted to update you on the journey that I'm on right now," she told her fans in a video. "I just checked into a mental health, wellness, drug and alcohol addiction treatment center retreat. It's really beautiful. It's in Malibu."
"I'm really excited to share my story with you guys. I'll be here for 30 days. This is day one," she continued. "I'm also documenting everything, and I'll be doing a YouTube video, so you guys can see the really vulnerable side. I'm going to keep it light on Instagram."
Three years later, she shared that she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves, per Mayo Clinic.
"Weakness and tingling in the hands and feet are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread and may lead to paralysis. In its most serious form, Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency. Most people with the condition need treatment in a hospital," the report stated.
She revealed to her followers that the disorder had manifested after she was involved in a car accident.
"Right now, I'm paralyzed from the tops of my upper thighs all the way down to my feet. I can't walk at all," she explained. "I am primarily in a wheelchair, and I have a walker. So I haven't been on Instagram, and I haven't been on TikTok because I’ve been pretty depressed, obviously."
"This is really hard to deal with. I've been trying to keep a good attitude and be hopeful that my feeling comes back, but there's always a chance it just stays like this," she said. "I'm really hoping and praying that I get to walk again someday."
Ray's final Instagram post
The late model, who was the daughter of legendary surfer Tony Ray, welcomed her first baby, Snow, in January and shared insight into her life as a new mom in her final social media post in July.
The mom-of-one shared a carousel of pictures of her young daughter captioned: "My whole heart, baby Snow."
Although Ray had given birth to the baby earlier this year, she did not announce her arrival to her followers until April, posting a sweet video of the pair, captioned: "Baby Snow hallelujah."