YouTube star and animal activist Mikayla Raines dies aged 29
A popular YouTube star and passionate animal rights activist has died by suicide after being bullied online, her heartbroken husband has revealed.
Mikayla Raines, a content creator and founder of a fox rescue centre in the US, was the victim of an 'online bullying campaign' from people she knew, her husband Ethan Frankamp said in a heartbreaking YouTube video.
The 29-year-old, who began working in wildlife rehabilitation when she was 15, was also a mum to a baby daughter.
Frankamp said his wife had complex mental health challenges and claimed the criticism she was receiving online caused her mental health to deteriorate.
'She felt as if the entire world had turned against her,' he shared. 'She has always battled with borderline personality disorder, causing emotional instability as well as impulsive behaviours, but this time it went too far.'
Frankamp added that his wife also had autism and struggled with depression.
Raines had a real passion for animals and established her non-profit centre Save A Fox, which rescues and rehabilitates foxes and other exotic animals, at 20.
'From a young age she dedicated every waking hour of her life to helping them [animals], whether it was helping a snapping turtle cross the road or saving 500 foxes from a terrible fur farm,' her husband said.
'She was never in it for fame, money or personal gain.
'She was truly one of the most selfless people I have ever known.'
The Save A Fox YouTube channel boasts 2.45 million subscribers and Raines had 500,000 followers on Instagram.
Frankamp ended the tearful video by telling critics spreading 'garbage' rumours to 'shut up' — and urged people feeling 'lost and hopeless' to reach out to a loved one or call a hotline for help.
'Despite this being the biggest loss of my life and feeling like I have a literal hole in my chest, I will not let Mikayla's light be extinguished and I won't let negativity win,' he added.
Frankamp's announcement of the Minnesota mother's death came one day after he posted a sweet video of Raines smiling after she rescued a lemur.
Frankamp said he 'will do whatever I can' to continue the work at Save A Fox.
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