[ad_1]
TikTok star Russell Manser’s girlfriend has made a touching tribute to the inspiring reformed criminal and child abuse survivor after his sudden death over the weekend.
Liliana Gagic shared photos of her and Mr Manser on her Instagram account, “Goodbye my lover, until we meet again,” she wrote.
Manser died unexpectedly over the weekend aged 56. His cause of death has not yet been revealed, but he was found unresponsive by a loved one at home.
He had turned his life around after spending more than two decades in prisons around NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
While he was incarcerated, Mr Manser was sexually abused and later started a charity, Voice of a Survivor, to help other survivors of institutional sexual abuse.
He made videos to inspire people to talk about their mental health and had acquired a TikTok following of more than 130,000 people.
Tributes from friends, followers and organisations Mr Manser had worked with continue to flood social media, thanking him for all he has done to help other survivors.
Fighters Against Child Abuse Australia wrote, “Russell was much more than the ultimate redemption story, from child abuse survivor to bank robber to inmate to media mogul with a book deal and an empire that got the notice of the awesome Mark Bouris.
“Russell was also the best mate you could have, the very definition of ‘cheer for your mates when they’re winning even if it doesn’t directly help you’.
“RIP Rusy, you will be sorely missed by so many lives that you touched.”
Razor Legal said Manser’s work in helping people with a similar background to him to obtain justice was “inspiring”.
“Russell, being a survivor himself, sought to assist other victims of abuse to find justice for themselves,” they stated.
“He had turned his life around in ways that many would be jealous of and became an advocate and role model for those just like him.
“Our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the team at Warrior Advocacy, Russell’s family, friends and anyone he came into contact with and inspired.”
Antoinette Marie wrote, “A man that turned his life around after the system failed him and helped so many.”
Renee McNab commented, “Russell you showed the world that prisoners can turn their lives around you are an inspiration to so many.”
Mr Manser grew up in western Sydney and was sent to Long Bay Jail when he was still 17 years old.
He was incarcerated with some of NSW’s most notorious sex offenders and was sexually abused while in prison.
Mr Manser said his abusers would inject him with heroin, causing him to become dependant on the drug.
He had also been sexually abused while in custody at the juvenile detention centre Daruk.
He eventually found the courage to speak up about his abuse during the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which led him to help other survivors.
[ad_2]
Source link
