Overview
- Des, John West’s sister and legal guardian who ran the WaxesByDes social accounts, announced his death and said he died of natural causes related to multiple long‑running illnesses.
- In follow-up posts she listed severe, untreated dental infections, episodes of blood in his urine, and ongoing kidney problems as part of his medical history while saying his health had improved over the past two years.
- The WaxesByDes accounts, which grew to hundreds of thousands of followers, filled with tributes within hours and also produced disbelief from some followers who had recently seen videos of John appearing healthy.
- Des obtained guardianship after raising concerns about neglect under previous caregivers and began documenting their life online in 2024, a choice that shaped public views of John’s day‑to‑day condition.
- News coverage notes the family statement is the primary source on cause of death and no independent medical or coroner report has been cited, a detail that has focused attention on safeguarding, long‑term care, and access to medical treatment for autistic adults.