Inside the tragic past of Sahara Ray's family as the model dies of overdose aged 34 just two years after the devastating loss of her cousin

The Ray family has been plunged into mourning following the death of Australian model and swimwear designer Sahara Ray, who died aged just 34.

Sahara, the daughter of legendary Australian surfer Tony Ray, died on Sunday, October 18, with her family confirming the heartbreaking news in a statement.

'She passed away last night surrounded by family at the hospital. She was so loved,' her family told US entertainment outlet TMZ.

Her death comes just months after Sahara welcomed her first child, a daughter named Snow. 

It also follows another devastating loss within the extended Ray family in 2024.

Sahara's cousin Sienna Ray died aged just 26 on July 23, 2024, with her family later gathering to farewell the young woman at a memorial service on Victoria's Surf Coast.

Sienna, the daughter of Michael Ray, was farewelled at Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

Her father shared the funeral arrangements in a heartbreaking social media post, expressing the family's grief as they prepared to say goodbye.

'It is with the heaviest heart that I post this but we would love for our friends and family to join us in Sienna’s send off next week,' he wrote.

'We loved her so much, and we will miss her everyday.'

Michael also thanked those who had offered their love and support during the difficult time, revealing that a poem shared in the tribute had been written by Sienna's sister, Indi Ray.

Sienna's death was attributed to a pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in the lungs.

Her passing was a devastating loss for her loved ones, with the family now facing fresh heartbreak following Sahara's death.

Sahara, who was previously linked to Justin Bieber, tragically died at 34 in a Los Angeles-area hospital Sunday, two days after a fentanyl overdose left her on life support, a source close to Ray told The Mail this week.

Sahara's relatives had decided to remove her from life support on Sunday afternoon, the source said, adding that she had been surrounded by family at the time of her death.

'Sahara was an incredibly passionate and kind young woman who loved her family, fashion, her daughter Snow, and surfing,' her mother Gretchen Bach, a real estate agent, told The Mail. 

Bach added: 'We're feeling the love that is pouring in from her cherished friends, fans and the many communities that she was part of around the world.'

Sahara was initially linked to Bieber in 2016, and established herself as a model and social media star with more than 905,000 followers on her Instagram.

The model, who had studied at The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), also had owned a swimwear brand called Sahara Ray Swim.

Sahara's life had been marked by significant challenges in recent years.

In 2024, she revealed she had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome after a serious car accident involving an alleged drunk driver.

The rare neurological condition affected her mobility, leaving her partially paralysed and requiring assistance as she worked towards recovery.

Despite her health struggles, Sahara went on to experience a major milestone when she became a mother earlier this year.

She welcomed daughter Snow in January 2026 and later shared glimpses of her life as a new mum with her substantial social media following.

Her final Instagram post, shared in July, featured photographs of her baby girl alongside the caption: 'My whole heart. Baby Snow.'

The poignant post has since become a place for fans to share their condolences following news of her death.