Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) star Victoria Lee - who died on December 26 aged just 18 - shared a heartbreaking final post congratulating her younger brother eight days before her tragic death.
The rising sports star had followed in her older sister Angela Lee's footsteps and joined professional MMA after wrestling in her native Hawaii.
Angela had taken to Instagram to post a tribute to her late sister, captioning a sweet image of Victoria amongst a field of sunflowers: "On December 26, 2022 our family experienced something no family should ever have to go through... It is incredibly difficult to say this... Our Victoria passed away.
"She has gone too soon and our family has been completely devastated since then. We miss her. More than anything in this world. Our family will never be the same. Life will never be the same."
"Victoria was the most beautiful soul who ever lived. She was the best little sister in the world. The best daughter, the best granddaughter and the best godma / aunty to Ava and Alia," she continued.
"We miss you so much sis. More than you could ever realize. We're all broken. Because a piece of you was in each of us and when you left, those pieces were ripped out of us. We will never be the same. Each and every little thing makes me think of you. From the sun rays, to the sunset. You taught us to see the beauty in the simple things. You were our bright light. Our sunshine. And that will never change," the caption read.
Angela concluded the emotional post: "You were perfect in every way. The best person I knew. The most beautiful girl, inside and out. We love you Victoria. I love you Sprout. Until the end of time. Please give our family grace and respect during this most difficult time. And please, check on your loved ones. Keep checking on them. Give them hugs and tell them how much they mean to you. You just never know."
Fans of Victoria had recalled the heartbreaking tribute she paid to her younger brother Adrian after winning a recent MMA title, writing: "Super proud of my little bro for winning the Toughman Pankration World Title (2nd round top guillotine) and of my teammate Elias for an awesome kickboxing win!! (2nd round TKO)."
Chatri Sityodtong the chairman of ONE - the largest MMA promotion in Asia - paid tribute to the late sports star, who was nicknamed 'The Prodigy.'
"I am heartbroken by Victoria Lee's passing [...] I watched her blossom over the years as a martial artist and a human being. I always remember thinking how wise, thoughtful, and selfless she was beyond her years.
"Of course, she was an extraordinary martial arts prodigy even back then, but I could see that she was so much more than that [...] She looked after others before herself. She wanted to use her life to help the world. I will always remember Victoria for the beautiful and precious soul that she was," he wrote.
Victoria Lee's cause of death has yet to be confirmed. Our thoughts remain with her friends and family at this difficult time.
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