A wrestling fan who went missing after traveling to Las Vegas to attend WrestleMania 42 earlier this month has been found dead.
Marc Izard died on April 18, his sister Kelly revealed via Facebook on Tuesday, April 28. He was 43.
“He passed away quickly from natural causes related to his underlying medical conditions,” Kelly wrote. “Although we’re obviously devestated [sic] at our loss, we’re at some comfort knowing he passed doing what he loved a lot.”
The Clark County coroner’s office confirmed the death to the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Monday, April 27, saying the cause and manner are still pending.
Izard’s body was present in the 1730 block of Las Vegas Boulevard South, roughly a half mile from The Strat Hotel and Casino.
Based on a social media post, Izard was last seen leaving WWE SmackDown at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena while using a walking stick on April 17.
Izard, a longtime pro wrestling fan, had traveled from his home within the U.K. to attend WrestleMania weekend. WrestleMania took place on April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium.
“We’re working on bringing his body home to say a correct goodbye, and we are going to after all ensure that his absoulete [sic] love of wrestling is honoured at his funeral,” his sister wrote. “We would like to say a masisve [sic] thanks to everyone that knew marc each personally, and his wider wrestling family for his or her huge help and support over the past week in helping us trying to seek out him.”
A GoFundMe organized in Izard’s honor said his life was “defined by his passion for the ring.”
“Whether it was supporting local independent promotions or traveling for the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All,’ Marc lived for the energy, the stories, and the idols he met along the way in which,” the page reads.
The GoFundMe features photos of Izard posing with pro wrestling legends from over time, including John Cena, The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan.
“Marc passed away removed from home,” the fundraiser explains. “As a family, our priority is to bring him back so we may give him the send-off he deserves, surrounded by the individuals who loved him. Nonetheless, the prices related to international repatriation and funeral arrangements are overwhelming. We’re reaching out to the wrestling community — the ‘Wrestling Family’ that Marc loved a lot — and to anyone who knew him, to assist us bring him home.”
The GoFundMe had raised over $16,000 on the time of this story’s publication.