Bodybuilder and popular Australian fitness influencer Jaxon Tippet has died of a suspected heart attack in Turkey just days after his 30th birthday.
The podcaster and single father of one from the Gold Coast died on Sunday, his family confirmed.
“According to what we have been told, Jax died of a heart attack while in Turkey,” posts on his social media read.
A GoFundMe page was set up by a family member to bring Mr. Tippet’s body home.
“It is with such heartbreak and a heavy heart that our beloved Jaxon tragically passed away during a holiday to Turkey,” the page reads.
“There really are no words to describe this kind of pain, and we know that many people will feel this heartbreak with us because so many loved him.
‘Jaxon would help everyone around him and now I hope we can come around, share and mark to help in any way we can, starting with raising money to bring our son, brother, uncle and friend home and to help with funeral costs.’
Mr. Tippet described himself to his 224,000 Instagram followers as a model, podcaster and coach.
Bodybuilder and popular Australian fitness influencer Jaxon Tippet has died of a suspected heart attack
On a 2022 podcast, he spoke openly about the “hell” of his previous steroid addiction and turning to Christianity changed his life.
He narrowly escaped jail after being caught with steroids in his pants and a syringe in his underwear during a police investigation on the Gold Coast in 2018.
“I lost a girlfriend, I almost lost my family over it and I almost went to jail when I was caught for my own personal use of steroids,” he said.
“I didn’t go to jail and the reason is because I truly believe God was watching over me. He saw potential in me and he saw a greater person in me.”
‘That was the sign for me that I am meant to do something with my life; not just being in prison, not just being this steroid addict.
‘Once I knew that the third sentence could have carried a prison sentence, and not only that, but how it affected my mother and father – they are in tears – I hit rock bottom.
“I was like, f*** this, this isn’t me, and I just snapped out of it.”
On podcasts and social media, Mr Tippet told how he almost went to jail while addicted to steroids
In his most recent Instagram post before his death, Mr. Tippet shared a photo of himself getting a tattoo that read “Jesus is King” on the shoulders of his already heavily inked torso.
“Six years ago I was in the worst state of my life, I had no job, no vision or purpose in life,” Mr Tippet wrote.
‘I was homeless at one point, my health was on the verge of ending due to health reasons due to drug addiction, I was facing jail time and having heavy suicidal thoughts on a daily basis as I attempted suicide three times.
“What saved me – Jesus. I prayed with my family on the exact day I walked into my last court hearing and walked out a free man, and I have never looked back since.
“It’s been an amazing journey, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. As the saying goes, sometimes you have to hit an all-time low to hit an all-time high.”
Mr Tippet also shared a chilling post on the day of his 30th birthday.
“Growing old is better than the alternative: dying young,” he said.
“All that matters in the end is that you loved.”
A Gofundme page is raising money to get the father’s body to Queensland
Mr Tippet’s death has led to an outpouring of tributes.
“We had big plans for the future, brother,” fitness and nutrition coach Rudi Garcia posted online.
“We were ready to take over.”
Pro bodybuilder Adam Roch recently recalled his last conversation with Mr. Tippet.
“Gone too early, too young,” he posted.
“Rest in paradise, brother.”