GTA 6 fan Jerry Stephens sadly passed away due to a complication from his lung transplant just weeks before the game’s release. Jerry was among the millions of fans who were eagerly waiting for Rockstar Games’ behemoth title. However, he had been suffering from a severe interstitial lung disease for almost a decade.
Here are more details on the widely supported GTA 6 fan who wanted to get better and enjoy the game.
Widely supported GTA 6 fan passes away weeks before game release due to a major lung infection
Jerry Stephens was a talented musician who frequently posted his own songs on social media. He was diagnosed with interstitial lung disease when he was only 17 years old. Since then, he has had a tube going through his nose, but that did not stop him from making art and posting it on social media.
On August 8, 2026, he posted a shocking video of himself in a hospital bed, saying that his lungs could not keep him up and that he would remain in the ICU till he gets a lung transplant. In that video, he just hoped to get well enough to play GTA 6 when it is released.
This video went viral on social media, and thousands of supporters came forward to show love for Jerry. His mother set up a GoFundMe page, which was flooded with loads of donations for his surgery. The goal was to reach $15,000, but the campaign raised over $96,000 thanks to approximately 5000 donations.
The GTA 6 fan then updated his followers with small clips of him explaining his medical journey.
Also Read: GTA 6 fan hopes to play the game before going blind
On November 2, 2026, his sister posted a video on his social media handles saying that he sadly passed away on October 29, 2026. The main reason was a major lung infection that resulted in his lungs being filled with blood.
She explained that despite doctors giving up hope, he tried to fight the condition for as long as possible, but the infection was too severe. She ended the video by thanking everyone who supported Jerry Stephens in whatever way, and said that he was at peace during his last moments.
The game is set to launch in 15 days, and fans will be able to pre-load the game next week on November 12, 2026.
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Edited by Akshat Kabra
