Vanessa Konopka Dies at 28 After Health Battle in Philippines

Vanessa Konopka, a well-known German travel vlogger, has tragically passed away at the age of 28 after battling a severe illness in the Philippines. The influencer, who had built a large following documenting her adventures, fell critically ill following a party on the island of Boracay, according to her partner Fernando.

Vanessa, known for her YouTube travel channel Happiness Crossing, which she co-managed with Fernando, was hospitalized for several months. Her condition deteriorated rapidly after being diagnosed with pneumonia and severe liver damage. Over time, she lost the ability to speak, eat, and walk, remaining bedridden in a Philippine hospital.

Despite a brief period of improvement earlier this year, where she returned to social media with hopeful updates, Vanessa’s condition worsened. In a video shared on February 20, Fernando had expressed optimism, stating, “Vanessa is out of danger now. She reunited with her mother, and they are both in Boracay.”

He added that they were waiting until she regained enough strength to travel back to Germany for further treatment, and had even launched a GoFundMe campaign to arrange an air ambulance.

However, Vanessa passed away just two weeks later, on March 7. Confirming the heartbreaking news, Fernando wrote: “Once again, I can only ask for your prayers so that God may bring comfort to the hearts of her loved ones. I trust in Him, I know He is with Vanessa, and I know God is always with us.”

In an emotional tribute, Fernando shared, “Kushka, if you are perhaps reading this somewhere, thank you so much for teaching me how to love myself, it doesn’t matter what other people think. You showed me how to love myself and how to follow my dreams. I will forever love you, and we may see each other again.”

The couple met in Australia and had relocated to Boracay in December 2022. Vanessa had recently been documenting her medical journey and health struggles, with followers expressing concern over visible signs such as jaundice. Her passing has left her followers and the travel community in mourning.