Bodybuilder Raechelle Chase dies suddenly leaving behind 5 children as heartbroken daughter says mum ‘inspired millions’
BODYBUILDER Raechelle Chase has died, sparking an outpouring of tributes for the "kind-hearted" mum of five.
Friends were shocked by the "sudden and unexpected" death of the fitness influencer, described as an "internet sensation".
Eldest daughter Anna Chase said her mum sacrificed so much to give her children an exciting life and managed to achieve every goal she set for herself.
Anna said: “She was supportive, kind-hearted and always had the best advice for us.
"She was a wildly driven woman with ambition and has inspired millions of people around the world.
”I miss her immensely and that love won’t ever fade”.
New Zealand-born Raechelle - who was also famous in Australia - died earlier this month, but the cause has not been revealed.
Friend Keith O’Connell said her death was “sudden and unexpected”, and added she was one of the “kindest souls” he had known.
He said: "Not going to lie, very few things in my life hit me as hard as your passing...
"You had so much left to live. So much love to give.
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"You were, still are, and always will be one of the kindest beautiful souls I will ever have experienced."
Raechelle was the first Kiwi woman to have taken part in the Figure Olympia bodybuilding event back in 2011 in Las Vegas.
In recent years, she has worked as a model and influencer who offered online fitness mentoring.
In 2016, Raechelle wrote publicly about her experience leaving a "toxic and abusive" relationship she fell into after separating from her husband Chris Chase.
Chris was put behind bars for ten years after being arrested in 2012 for his role in distributing a designer drug, similar to ecstasy, around New Zealand.
“The relationship I was in taught me many things about what I don't want, and what I need to steer very clear off," she wrote on .
"It wasn't just me that suffered, it was my entire family.
“So if you know you are in an abusive relationship and you don't have the courage to leave, do it for your children.
"Grab hold of whatever you need long enough to survive crawling out of that hole because I promise you it will be worth it."
The former bodybuilding star was last active on social media on September 30.
"Growth can be painful, change can be painful but nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don't belong," she posted on Instagram to her 1.4million followers.
She also shared photos from a magazine photoshoot on Facebook late last month.
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Her death is being investigated by the New Zealand Coroner.
"Given the recent nature of the death, no further information is available at this stage," a spokesman for the New Zealand Ministry of Justice said.
