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Popular influencer Tanner Martin announced his death at age 30 in a pre-recorded video just weeks after he welcomed his first child.

The Utah dad said he had a “heck of a life” in an Instagram video shared Wednesday following his five-year battle with stage four colon cancer.

“Hey, it’s me, Tanner, if you’re watching this, I am dead,” Martin said in the heartbreaking clip, which was shared to his and wife Shay’s joint account that boasts 454,000 followers.


  Tanner Martin announced his death in a pre-recorded Instagram video. Instagram / tannerandshay Tanner Martin announced his death in a pre-recorded Instagram video. Instagram / tannerandshay

The content creator, who publicly documented his cancer journey, said he wanted to record a “lighthearted” video ahead of his death so his partner could upload it and focus on grieving.

“I had a heck of a life,” he went on. “I decided to make this video announcing my death because I saw someone did that, like, a year or so ago, and I think it’s a good opportunity to get all your thoughts out and also you can be thoughtful about what your partner or spouse might need and she probably needs some time to grieve.”

Martin thanked fans for their support and asked them to pray for his wife and their newborn, AmyLou, who was born on May 15.

“Life was awesome,” he shared. “I really enjoyed it while I was here. Hopefully, I believe there’s something after this and I’m excited to meet those people, and hopefully we’re hanging out now and making fun of all you nerds.”

In the video, the social media personality discussed the afterlife and claimed he was looking forward to meeting his wife’s father, his biological grandpa on his dad’s side and other family members.

“I’m excited to see them not in pain and just happy,” Martin said.


  Martin and his wife welcomed their first baby in May. GoFundMe Martin and his wife welcomed their first baby in May. GoFundMe

  The content creator’s dying wish was for fans to donate to a GoFundMe page to support his wife and daughter. Instagram / tannerandshay The content creator’s dying wish was for fans to donate to a GoFundMe page to support his wife and daughter. Instagram / tannerandshay

“Death is scary but it’s also like a new adventure, you know, and I’m kind of excited for it a little bit, but not in like a, like, you know, ‘I want to kill myself’ or anything, but I’m excited to see what the experience is like and hopefully it’s good,” he said.

Martin did not have life insurance and his dying wish, which was shared in a separate pre-recorded video on Wednesday, saw him ask fans to donate to his widow and daughter through a GoFundMe fundraiser.

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“For less than the price of a hot and spicy McChicken (Tanner’s words…LOL), you can give them a future Tanner only wished he could stay to provide,” the page said.


  Martin documented his heartbreaking cancer battle and wife’s pregnancy on social media. @tannerandshay/Instagram Martin documented his heartbreaking cancer battle and wife’s pregnancy on social media. @tannerandshay/Instagram

  The couple held hands inside a birth recovery room at Utah’s Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital on May 15, 2025. The Washington Post via Getty Images The couple held hands inside a birth recovery room at Utah’s Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital on May 15, 2025. The Washington Post via Getty Images

The fundraiser has raised nearly $400,000 for his family.

Martin was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in November 2020 and spent five years sharing his personal journey online until he died.

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