Twitch streamer Byron Bernstein aka Reckful dead at 31

Byron Bernstein, a beloved member of the online gaming community has died. He was 31.

Known in the online gaming community as Reckful, the Austin, Texas-based gamer streamed on the streaming platform Twitch, where he was one of the highest-ranking World of Warcraft players. The gamer had more than 936,000 followers and was creating a new game called Everland.

Bernstein’s ex-girlfriend, known as Blue, confirmed that he died by suicide on Thursday.

CEO of influencer agency Ader Justin Warden released a statement, “Byron was a hero to me. Byron always gave people a shot. He acted as if every interaction with another human being was a moment of rare joy to be treasured. He spent his life bringing joy to others as he fought to find it in himself, and I hope than in learning of his passing, people learn of his impact. In his passing, he brings us together. He will never be forgotten.”

Early Thursday his Twitter feed included troubling messages to which his fans had responded with concern.

In January he shared in a video that he had lost his brother to suicide when he was just 6 years old and he too had struggled with mental health for a long time. However, the gamer had added that he was improving and that working on his new game had given him “a sense of purpose.”

“I am actually day-to-day happy,”  Bernstein had said, “I’ve never felt this way in my life. I’m not saying it’s gonna last forever, but right now I’m happy.”

Fans, followers, and the online gaming community alike had shared their remembrances of the internet personality, recalling moments when he opened up about his struggles and encouraged others in pain to get help.