Presley Gerber told how dad Rande supported him through his darkest periods in poignant post about the 'best father in the world' months before his death

Presley Gerber thanked his father for his support in a poignant Instagram post shared four months before his death.It was confirmed on Monday that Presley, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber, has died at age 27 following a years-long struggle with drugs, panic attacks and his mental health.The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said that Presley died on Sunday at a rehab facility in a devastating end to a battle he had increasingly laid bare in brutally candid social media posts. His cause of death was not revealed.Late last year the model started talking about his mental health battle in Instagram posts.In a May 2026 post he shared his gratitude for his father, posting a photo of the pair paddle boarding together as he wrote about the man he said had steadfastly supported him through his darkest periods.'I have the best father in the world. He's never given up on me. He's always there for me. Always has the best advice for me. I appreciate this man more than words can explain. I love you pops. To more paddle boarding days around the world.' Presley Gerber paid tribute to his father, thanking him for his support in a poignant Instagram post shared four months before his deathRande responded in the comments: 'I am honored [to] take this ride called life with you over and over any time. Sometimes we may fall but with a little help always get back up. I love you forever Prez.'Cindy also showed her support, commenting, 'My boys!'Presely later deleted the post. He previously explained how he frequently stepped back from his social media platforms or deleted content to focus on his well-being.Other posts that still remain on his accout include a heartfelt dedication to his mother to mark her birthday in 2024. 'Mom. Thank you. Thank you for all of the amazing support and love you have showed me,' Presely wrote. 'Thank you for being a role model. You are one of my greatest inspirations. From relationships to work you have taught me so much. I am grateful for you every day. I have infinite love for you.' Presley’s final Instagram post was shared on August 5 and featured him barefoot and smiling as he modelled clothing from Vuori Clothing, a favourite brand of his family's.The previous post, shared on March 26, saw Presely opening up on some of the methods he was trying to overcome his health battles.A video shows him standing outside as he takes part in a 'Pre Ibogaine Flood Dose'. Presely, the model son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber, has died at just 27 following a years-long struggle with drugs, panic attacks and his mental health (pictured in his last Instagram post, shared on August 5)A flood dose is a single, high-dose administration of a substance - most commonly ibogaine, a psychoactive compound derived from plants and used in specialised addiction clinics. The high-dose is designed to induce a profound psychoactive and physiological 'reset'. Ibogaine is illegal in the US, where it is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance but it is Iegal or permitted by prescription in countries like Canada and Brazil.Presley captioned the video: 'Pre Ibogaine Flood Dose - quiet moment before everything changed. i was absolutely terrified, and I knew I would be again if I ever had to face something like this (helps to not go into the situations you do that get ya there but that’s life sometimes.)''(my mantras were love yourself and lis gotta be the last time for this reason. letting go of control didn’t come easy, but I trusted there was something bigger than me guiding it.''I knew why i was there. I faced what I had been running from, and somewhere in all of it, i started finding my way back to myself…. We shall see…. Praying it’s the last time I have to come back.''Next time I’d like to choose And absolutely can’t forget the incredible caring kind and on their sh*t team. Helps a lot haha. And I made some dope ass friends there #iboga #ibogaine #rewireyourbrain #loveyourself #mentalhealth.'Presley's family shared their support on the post, with Cindy writing in the comments: 'You are a warrior! Walked thru the fire to find yourself! So proud!' His sister Kaia added: 'that’s my brother I am so damn proud' whilst Rande wrote: 'I’m so proud of you and your courage. Facing what’s hard takes real strength and watching you find your way back to yourself is everything. I love you so much.' Four months before his passing, Presely had supported his sibling at the RE/DONE x Kaia Gerber Short/Cuts Launch event in May in L.A. His parents had also made an appearance as the family paused for photos together outside. Kaia was last seen in public on September 16, attending an event at The Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills. Cindy and Rande meanwhile were pictured two days before their son's death on a date night at a pizza restaurant in Agoura Hills. In a March 26 2026 post a video shows Presely taking part in a 'Pre Ibogaine Flood Dose', with his family all leaving supportive comments Last month, Presley's sister Kaia revealed how his drug use and mental health struggles had affected their family.'When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,' she told Vogue.Last November, Presley revealed he had taken a step back from social media to 'take care of my own mental health for a bit.'One month later, he opened up about his personal life in a candid social media video.Sister, Kaia, said her brother's troubles made her want to be the 'easy' child.She explained, 'I think that's also why I started to self-​identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help. Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing.'He listed medication he takes for 'night terrors' and 'panic attacks.''I feel like honesty is the best policy,' he began before sharing that he was on 1mg of Buprenorphine, used to treat both pain and opioid use disorders, twice a day.Presley also shared that the 'benzos have been fluctuating up and down depending on what's been going on in my life.'Benzodiazepines help 'slow down activity in your brain and nervous system' to treat 'anxiety and related mental health conditions,' per Cleveland Clinic. Kaia was last seen in public on September 16, attending an event at The Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills Cindy and Rande meanwhile were pictured two days before their son's death on a date night at a pizza restaurant in Agoura Hills'Unfortunately, I've had a lot of loss in many different forms recently, so that is not an excuse, but it's the reason why I am where I'm at now,' he shared.He did not go into detail about the 'loss' he referenced, but went on to explain that he also takes a dose of Xanax at night or when his 'panic attacks are really, really bad.'The model then listed Valium, admitting that he didn't know exactly how much he'd been taking as he said, 'Who f***ing knows anymore.'He noted in the Instagram reel that 'doctors say a lot of different things so it's kind of scary. But hopefully between my research and their research and the world and God, we can finally figure this out.'Presley also talked about the lack of 'direction' he has from doctors when it comes to his medication.'I'd like doctors to be like, "Take this three times a day." But every psychiatrist I've had - and I've had 15 - are like, "Here's 20 medications and take this if you feel like this, take this as needed."'And I'm like, "No, don't give me that much leeway." I need some direction,' he continued.Kaia, told Vogue that witnessing her brother's honesty was 'refreshing.''My parents for most of our lives were very, very private and didn't share anything – and now we have this absolute teacher, my brother, who says, "I'm gonna be very human for everyone." There's only so much you can hide from the world,' she said.'And trying to put a lid on something just makes the person feel like you're ashamed of them.'