Life is weirdly fragile. One minute you're watching a bright, energetic young woman share her life on TikTok, and the next, the internet is flooded with tributes. When the news broke about how did Lizzie Mussey pass, it didn't just hit her family—it rattled a massive community of followers who felt like they knew her.
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Mussey wasn't just another influencer. She was a 20-year-old from Ohio with a massive heart and a presence that felt genuinely authentic in a world of filtered perfection. She was a student at Ohio State University. She was a sister. A daughter.
Then she was gone.
The shock was immediate. People wanted answers. In the age of instant information, the vacuum left by a sudden death often gets filled with rumors, but the truth here is both simpler and much more heartbreaking than the internet theories suggest.
The timeline of Lizzie Mussey’s passing
It happened in early 2024. Specifically, Lizzie passed away on January 8th.
The news didn't come from a tabloid. It came from those closest to her. When a young person dies suddenly, the first instinct for many on social media is to speculate about accidents or "hidden" struggles. But the reality was a medical crisis.
Lizzie suffered a sudden and catastrophic medical emergency. Honestly, it’s the kind of thing that terrifies parents and friends because there’s often no warning. One day you're planning for the semester, and the next, everything stops.
Her family eventually shared that her death was due to a pulmonary embolism.
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If you aren't familiar with the term, a pulmonary embolism (PE) is basically a blood clot that gets stuck in an artery in the lung. Usually, these clots start in the legs—something called Deep Vein Thrombosis—and then they break loose. They travel through the heart and lodge in the lungs. It blocks blood flow. It’s fast. Often, it’s fatal before anyone even realizes what’s happening.
Why people are still asking about how Lizzie Mussey died
The internet has a short memory, but Lizzie was different. She had built a following of over 200,000 people on TikTok alone.
People felt a parasocial bond with her. When she stopped posting, the silence was deafening. You've probably seen this happen before—a creator goes dark, and the comment sections turn into a mix of "Are you okay?" and "RIP" within forty-eight hours.
The confusion around how did Lizzie Mussey pass stemmed partly from how private her family (rightfully) stayed in the immediate aftermath. They needed space to breathe. To grieve.
When the obituary was eventually released, it painted a picture of a girl who loved the Buckeyes, cherished her golden retriever, and had an infectious laugh. It didn’t focus on the tragedy of the embolism; it focused on the twenty years of life she actually lived.
The Medical Reality of Pulmonary Embolisms in Young Adults
We often think of blood clots as an "old person" problem. That’s a mistake.
While age is a factor, PEs can happen to anyone. For young women, there are specific risk factors that doctors talk about all the time, though we rarely listen until something like this happens. Hormonal birth control, long-haul travel, recent surgery, or even just genetic predispositions like Factor V Leiden can increase risk.
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We don't know Lizzie's specific medical history—and we shouldn't. That’s private. But her passing served as a massive, unwanted wake-up call for her audience.
The legacy left behind on social media
It's strange how digital footprints work.
Lizzie’s TikTok account is still there. Her videos—full of college life, fashion, and humor—serve as a digital archive. It’s a bittersweet place. You see her smiling in a video from late 2023, and you realize she had no idea what was coming. None of us do.
Her family and friends have been incredibly vocal about honoring her memory through kindness. They didn't want her to be defined by a medical term. They wanted her defined by her "Lizzie-isms"—her unique way of looking at the world.
Dealing with the "Why"
Grief is messy. When a community loses someone like Lizzie, there’s a collective "Why?" that never really gets answered.
- Why her?
- Why so young?
- Could it have been prevented?
Doctors will tell you that PEs are notoriously hard to catch. Symptoms can mimic a simple panic attack or a pulled muscle. Shortness of breath. Chest pain. A cough. By the time it becomes an emergency, the window for intervention is incredibly small.
What we can learn from this tragedy
Honestly, looking into how did Lizzie Mussey pass shouldn't just be about satisfying curiosity. It should be a reminder to pay attention.
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If you have unexplained leg pain, swelling, or sudden shortness of breath, don't "tough it out." Go to the ER. It sounds dramatic, but for Lizzie, the window was closed before she could even fight back.
Lizzie’s story isn't just a sad headline. It’s a story about a girl who was loved deeply and who left an mark on the world that far outlasted her time on it. Her family has encouraged people to live like Lizzie—with passion, with a bit of sass, and with a whole lot of love for the people around you.
Actionable steps for health awareness
Understanding the risks of blood clots is the best way to honor the conversations started by Lizzie's passing.
- Know the signs of DVT: Look for swelling in one leg (rarely both), pain or tenderness often starting in the calf, and red or discolored skin on the leg.
- Recognize PE symptoms: Sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply, or feeling lightheaded.
- Move your body: If you're on a long flight or sitting at a desk all day at uni, get up and walk every hour. Flex your calves. Keep the blood moving.
- Talk to your doctor: If you are on hormonal medication, ask about your specific risk factors for clotting. It's a quick conversation that actually matters.
The Ohio State community and the wider social media world lost a bright light in Lizzie Mussey. While the "how" is a matter of medical fact, the "who" is what her followers choose to remember. She was more than a medical statistic; she was a sister, a friend, and a creator who made the world feel a little bit smaller and a lot more connected.
Rest easy, Lizzie.
Immediate Next Steps
If you feel moved by Lizzie's story, the best thing you can do is educate yourself on the "Stop the Clot" campaign or similar organizations dedicated to blood clot awareness. Checking in on your friends and family—truly checking in—is exactly what the Mussey family has advocated for in the wake of their loss. Pay attention to your body, advocate for your health when something feels "off," and don't take the next 24 hours for granted.