At the age of 19, Beandri Booysen, an emblematic figure of TikTok, died. Affected by progeria, a rare disease, she had recently undergone a major open heart operation.
Beandri Booysen was an inspiration to many. Born with progeria, a rare genetic disease that causes accelerated aging, she defied all medical predictions by living to the age of 19 while her life expectancy was estimated at 14 years. His mother, Bea Booysen, confirmed the sad news on Facebook: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Beandri, one of South Africa’s most beloved and inspiring young women. Despite the challenges she faced, Beandri radiated hope and joy, inspiring thousands with her unique spirit.” Also a victim of osteoporosis and aortic stenosis, she had recently undergone open heart surgery last October, described by those close to her as her “biggest challenge yet“. Thanks to this operation the young woman still hoped to celebrate Christmas with her family, as she confided in a TikTok video: “I would really like to spend Christmas with my family.”
Death of Beandri Booysen: the rising figure of TikTok had just undergone a major operation
Until his last days, Beandri Booysen continued to fight against illness. Although she recovered well from her recent open heart surgery, her health unfortunately did not allow the young TikToker to realize her dream of spending Christmas with her loved ones. Despite her illness, she never lost her optimism and her joy of living. On TikTok, she was even optimistic by declaring: “I’ve lived with progeria since birth and I’m used to it. I have learned over the years to cope with all the challenges and all the surgeries.” His videos had attracted more than 269,000 subscribers and accumulated hundreds of thousands of likes.
Death of TikToker Beandri Booysen at only 19 years old: it was her mother who announced the sad news on social networks
It was on Facebook that Bea Booysen, his mother, shared the sad news, asking for respect and privacy during this painful time: “She has become a symbol of awareness of progeria and other special needs of childrenusing his unique spirit to inspire thousands of people around the world. She never stopped fighting.” Tributes have been pouring in since the announcement of his death from both fans and content creators.
