Michiel Vandeweert, Belgian influencer with progeria, dies at 28

Belgian content creator Michiel Vandeweert has died at the age of 28. Vandeweert lived with progeria, an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes rapid physical aging. Despite doctors initially predicting he would only live until age 12, he lived more than twice that expectation, becoming one of the oldest known individuals to live with the condition.

Vandeweert built a significant online presence across Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch, where he shared his daily life and gaming content with over 90,000 followers. He also authored a memoir at age 15 titled ‘Ik Ben Michiel’ and was featured in the documentary ‘How To Be Alive: Amber and Michiel’, which chronicled his life alongside his 20-year-old sister, Amber, who also lives with progeria.

His death has drawn widespread tributes from the Belgian community. The soccer club KRC Genk, of which he was a devoted supporter, honored him as a ‘true lover of life’ and announced that his funeral would be held on the club's pitch—the first time such an event will take place on the field itself. Rik Kriekels, the mayor of Diepenbeek, praised Vandeweert’s positive outlook and resilience in the face of his illness.