Kerwin Rae was a larger-than-life bodybuilder and professional coach with more than a million followers. Then, in an instant, he was gone.

The larger-than-life Australian motivational speaker Kerwin Rae – who amassed millions of followers around the world – is remembered as a ‘force of nature’, ‘an epic human being’ and friend and mentor to many.

Rae’s family announced the death of the business and life coach star on social media, saying they were left with “hurt hearts” and an “unimaginable sense of loss” after he passed away on Friday.

“Kerwin was a force of nature, there are countless stories to tell and so many words that could describe the epic human being he was, but right now we are too overwhelmed to express them,” his family said in the statement.

“To all who had the privilege of knowing him – whether as a friend, partner, mentor or family member – please keep this extraordinary soul in your thoughts and hearts.”

His family asked Rae’s legions of fans to keep him in their thoughts.

“Kerwin always lit a candle and said a prayer for someone who passed by,” the statement said.

“If you would like to honor him in the same way, light a candle for Kerwin today, say a prayer for his soul, for his sons Noah and Jonah, for his family and friends who will miss his physical presence, but recite his memory always in their hearts.

“We kindly ask for privacy as we begin to grieve and find a way forward, with plans to celebrate the incredible father, brother, son, friend and mentor he was to so many.

‘Rest in eternal peace, dear Kerwin. You are a ripple in the quantum field, unbound by matter, a pulse at the heart of the cosmos.”

The Byron Bay personality’s cause of death has not been revealed.

Mr. Rae’s website said he had “helped more than 100,000 companies, in 154 different industries, across 11 countries around the world, with his revolutionary, no-bulls** approach to business growth and personal transformation.”

The website stated that Mr Rae had failed almost every subject at school and had not read a book from cover to cover until he was 23.

Mr Rae’s website revealed that he had ‘helped more than 100,000 companies, across 154 different industries, in 11 countries around the world, with his revolutionary no-bulls** approach to business growth and personal transformation’

Mr. Rae battled addiction and had six near-death experiences, including a stroke that nearly took his life.

As a teenager, Mr. Kerwin took up martial arts and became a bodybuilder, which led to a job in the security industry.

He provided armed escorts and personal protection for Bon Jovi, U2 and Madonna when they toured Australia.

He then started working in nightclubs and tragically became addicted to speed.

To give his life a new impetus, he left the nightclub scene and started merchandising for Rebel Sport.

Mr Rae’s family announced his death on social media in an emotional post on Saturday

In his 20s and early 30s, Mr Rae founded many business ventures before launching his business consultancy in 2009, based on education, training and support.

Comments on the family’s social media post expressed their shock at Mr Rae’s death.

‘WHAT! omg i’m so sad i wanted to meet you so badly. Thank you for helping me through dark times,” one person wrote.

‘Certainly not! This is really heartbreaking.’

“Kerwin, from me to you, buddy, you shaped me plain and simple.

“You have been one of the most important communicators and coaches in this country that I have always placed on a pedestal,” wrote another.

‘What a loss to the world! His family must be devastated, as should all the people he worked with,” a third wrote.