TikTok star Beandri Booysen, known for her inspirational videos on social media, has died. She was 19 years old.
On Wednesday, December 18, Beandri’s mom, Bea Booysen, confirmed on Facebook that the teenager had passed away. She suffered from progeria — also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome — a rare genetic condition that causes children to age prematurely.
Her post, translated from the original into English, is titled “In Loving Memory of Beandri Booysen.” She shared it on the “Beandri, our inspiration” group, which the family founded 15 years ago.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Beandri Booysen, one of South Africa’s most beloved and inspiring young women,” Bea wrote.
“Beandri was not only known for her bubbly personality and infectious laugh, but she was also the last surviving person in South Africa living with progeria.”
Beandri Booysen.
BEANDRI, OUR INSPIRATION/Facebook
Bea continued: “Despite the challenges she had to deal with, Beandri radiated hope and zest for life. She was a voice and symbol of progeria and other special needs awareness, and inspired thousands with her unique spirit.”
“The Booysen family kindly requests privacy during this extremely difficult time as they process the loss of their beloved Beandri. We will share further details about the memorial service at a later date,” the post concluded.
Beandri has more than 278,000 followers on TikTok and is regularly praised for her heartfelt videos that have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
A tribute video shared on the social media site had been viewed more than 300,000 times by Thursday, December 19.
“WE MISS YOU SO MUCH ALREADY😭”, reads the description of the post.
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Beandri Booysen.
Beandri Booysen/Instagram
The sad news comes after Bea revealed on Facebook that her daughter will undergo heart surgery on October 8, thanking fans for their “prayers and support”. After updating fans on Beandra’s recovery, she revealed on Wednesday that her heart had stopped.
Messages poured in for the teenager on Bea’s tribute post, with one person writing: “Condolences to all her loved ones! She was a true inspiration ♥️”
Another added: “Prayers to the family for the loss of such a precious young lady.”
“So sad. What an inspiration she was. Fly high with the angels sweet girl. ❤️💜🩵,” wrote a third person.
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According to the Progeria Research Foundation, there are an estimated 400 children worldwide living with the condition.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the average life expectancy of a child with progeria is about 15 years, although some may live up to 20 years.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education