Presley Gerber's ex-girlfriend Lexi Wood says he 'fought hard for his life' as details on tragic death emerge
The ex-girlfriend of model Presley Gerber has spoken out in the wake of his tragic death.
Lexi Wood, 28, took to Instagram on Tuesday (22 Sept) where she shared a carousel of pictures and videos of herself with Presley, who died on Sunday, aged just 27.
Presley's apparent cause of death was confirmed yesterday after PEOPLE obtained the recording of a call made to California police on 20 September for a cardiac arrest at 9.35 am.
Police were dispatched to the address of a rehab facility in Santa Monica, where first responders were informed the situation appeared to be an overdose.
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The Santa Monica Police Department later released a statement, revealing that officers had found Presley dead upon their arrival.
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner subsequently ruled that the star, the son of 90s supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, had died at the facility.
In a message shared to TMZ following the news, Presley's loved ones said: "The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time."
His former flame, actress star Lexi Wood has since shared a tribute, claiming he 'fought so hard for his life' following years of substance abuse and mental health woes.
"It’s hard to put into words what it means to lose someone who was such a meaningful part of my life for so many years," Wood penned in the caption. "Through every chapter and every version of our relationship, friendship was always at the core of it.
"Everyone who loved Presley and was loved by him knows he was one of the kindest, most open, loving and courageous people."
She added that her ex 'loved so deeply, so purely', and 'was incredibly romantic and thoughtful'.
Wood also reflected on Presley's addiction issues, telling her followers: "He was also incredibly resilient. He fought so hard for his life and he was brave enough to be open about that fight.
"More than anything, he wanted to use his story to help other people, and he did."
She continued: "I feel so lucky to have shared so many years of friendship, so many memories and so much love with him.
"He will always hold such a special place in my heart, and we will all miss him forever.
Presley - who was also the older brother of model and actress Kaia Gerber - spent the years prior to his death being open about his mental health challenges and drug use.
Following his 2019 arrest for driving under the influence - after which he was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to complete a DUI programme, alongside two days of community service - his own Instagram series called 'Mental Health Mondays'.
Last November, he wrote on the snap-sharing app: "It’s been a minute since I’ve posted - I had to take a step back and take care of my own mental health for a bit. But I’m coming back soon - stronger, clearer, more intentional than ever.
"When I started Mental Health Mondays, the goal was to spark real conversations about the stuff most people hide. It’s been incredible seeing how far that message has spread and how many people it’s helped.
"I’m proud that something I created has inspired others and started a bigger movement around openness and healing."
He added: "And with November being Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the timing couldn’t be better to keep the conversation going."
Presley shared similar remarks during an appearance on the Studio 22 podcast in 2023, telling listeners: "Having struggled with mental health, depression and some other things that come along with that, I think that whether I help one person or a hundred people get out of that place that I was in at one point in my life, that’s all I need to do.
"(Mental health) is an issue. It is such a big part of my life. It’s a 24/7 job, and there’s so much to it."
Presley added: "That’s really what I want to do: help people, whether you’re depressed, or you’re struggling with something that is having a negative effect on your body. I mean, it could be anything, and there’s no judgment.
"I’ve seen a lot of stuff, and I’ve learned a lot of things. What I hope I can do is have made the mistakes for some other people, so they don’t have to make the same mistakes that I made."
Rhianna Benson