Family of popular Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade announce 23-year-old dies of stage-four cancer

Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade has died of stage-four cancer, his family have announced.

The 23-year-old’s family confirmed the news in an emotional farewell video posted on his behalf to his ten million followers.

The video, entitled “so long nerds”, showed his father reading a statement written by the popular gamer, and speaking of his final days.

The farewell message, written eight hours before his death, said: “Hello everyone, Technoblade here. If you’re watching this, I am dead.”

“Thank you all for supporting my content over the years,” he continued. “If I had another hundred lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time as those were the happiest years of my life.”

He also revealed that his real name was Alex, even though his fans were under the impression it was Dave due to a long-running prank.

His family said that the 23-year-old “avoided personal fame” and “worked hard to keep his true identity confidential”.

Last year, Alex revealed to fans he had been diagnosed with cancer.

He disclosed the diagnosis in August 2021, explaining that he initially thought the pain he was feeling was from a repetitive stress injury due to excessive gaming. After his arm became swollen he went to hospital and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer.

The online star explained in a fundraising video posted in February that he had undergone chemotherapy, radiation therapy and an amputation after developing a painful tumour in his right arm in his battle with stage-four cancer.

The video ended with a written statement from his family, which read: “We, the family of Technoblade, wanted all of you to know just how much he adored and respected his fans and colleagues.

“From Technoblade’s earliest online days, he was always strategizing ways to delight and reward his audience – giving away online prizes, encouraging good sportsmanship, and most of all sharing his Minecraft adventures for entertainment and laughs.

“Even after his eventual successes he somehow managed to keep his good-natured humility, competing with an endearing balance between confidence and self-deprecating wit.”