Animal rescue activist and popular YouTuber Mikayla Raines has died. She was 29.
Her husband, Ethan Raines, announced the news in an emotional video
posted to social media
on Monday, saying that she died by suicide “a couple of days ago.”
“We have suffered a loss that is unimaginable,” the caption of
the video on Instagram read.
”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.”
In the video, Ethan Raines said that Mikayla had struggled with autism, depression and borderline personality disorder, and that she had been the target of an “online bullying campaign” from people she knew, including some who worked at other animal sanctuaries.
“She felt as if the entire world had turned against her,” he said while fighting back tears. “She couldn’t bear what she was feeling any longer, and she ended her life. And it breaks my heart that someone who is selfless and devoted her life to animals could have so much negativity pointed at her.”
“And to those of you that pushed her to this, every one of you that had been responsible for making her feel this way … I wish you had to feel what she felt,” he said. “I wish you had to feel what I feel.”
Mikayla Raines created the nonprofit animal rescue organization,
SaveAFox Rescue
, in 2017. The group is dedicated to rescuing foxes from fur farms and providing them with “forever homes.” It has saved more than 150 foxes, according to its website.
The group’s YouTube account has over 2.4 million subscribers on YouTube and over 590,000 followers on Instagram.
In the video, Ethan Raines, said he would continue to keep SaveAFox going and help rescue animals in need.
“Despite this being the biggest loss of my life and feeling like I have a literal hole in my chest,” he said, “I will not let Mikayla’s light be extinguished, and I won’t let negativity win, and I won’t let her mission fall apart.”
He also encouraged anyone feeling “lost and helpless” to reach out to family and friends or contact a crisis hotline.
In addition to her husband, Mikayla Raines leaves behind a young daughter, Freya.
If you are in crisis, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
Stories by
Chris Mautner
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