Shock as Australian fashion designer dies suddenly at age 47 – just a month after being hospitalised due to health issues caused by vaping

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The Australian designer behind Runaway The Label has died at the age of 47. 

Premal Patel, the founder and CEO of the well-known brand, died on Sunday after a short illness. The specific illness hasn’t been revealed.

The fashion label announced that Prem’s strong leadership and principles were central to their brand, and would continue to be even after his passing.

‘His influencer is deeply embedded in the culture, team, and direction of Runaway,’ the post began.

‘While the legacy Prem created will live on, the world feels a little less bright without him.’

I’m just… heartbroken. Prem is gone, and honestly, it doesn’t feel real. His family needs space right now, which is completely understandable, and they’re planning something to really honor him – a celebration of everything he was and everything he achieved. It’s going to be beautiful, I just know it, and I can’t wait to celebrate his life properly. It’s the least we can do for such an amazing person.

Fellow designers and colleagues shared their sadness in the comments after learning about his death.

Media personality Sarah Marie Fahd expressed her disbelief and grief, calling the loss of Prem “like a bad dream.” She shared a message of love and remembrance, stating he would be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Social media personality Aliie Auton expressed her sadness, writing, “This is truly heartbreaking news. My thoughts and love are with his family, friends, and colleagues.”

‘Absolutely heartbreaking. Sending so much love,’ shared MAFS star Tahnee Cook.

The Bachelor’s Kiki Morris also commented, saying: ‘Omg no. This can’t be true.’

This news follows just over a month after Prem publicly shared his serious health issues, which required doctors to put him into a medically induced coma.

He posted a picture of himself in the hospital’s intensive care unit, connected to machines that were helping him breathe.

I was really struck by the photo, especially because of the honest explanation that came with it. Premal shared that he ended up in the hospital because of vaping – it was a really brave thing to admit, and I think it’s so important for people to hear the truth about it.

He started his post by explaining that his health problems began a month earlier when he had to be taken to the hospital.

He explained that four weeks ago, he suddenly became very ill and had to be taken to the intensive care unit because his oxygen levels were critically low. He was even talking when he started to lose consciousness.

‘My oxygen was so low it wasn’t compatible with life without an external tank keeping me alive.

‘I spent a week in hospital with test after test and still no answers.’

Prem explained that he left the hospital after a week, but unfortunately, he quickly had to be readmitted to the intensive care unit.

I left the hospital, but had to return to the emergency room just two days later. They sent me home again, and then I ended up back in intensive care for the third time, he explained.

However, Prem added that things quickly went from bad to worse.

The third time, things didn’t go so well. I ended up in a medically induced coma and needed breathing tubes inserted into my lungs, he shared.

I needed a lot of help breathing, using a machine that delivered a high concentration of oxygen. My lungs were extremely swollen and weren’t able to get enough oxygen into my bloodstream. It was a life-threatening situation.

He added that doctors found the cause of the issue.

He discovered he had vape fluid in his lungs. Doctors immediately treated him with anti-inflammatory medication to help him breathe, he explained.

Prem then issued a stark warning to people who vape, saying they were ‘gambling with their lives.’

‘If you vape and want to gamble with your life, keep vaping,’ he added.

‘I choose life. And I would never put my loved ones through what they just went through for me.’

Honestly, hearing Premal talk… it really hit me. He said something about how the one thing he thought he had handled, the thing he never worried about, ended up being the biggest fight of his life. It was like a warning, and it scared me because he admitted he always used to think ‘that’ wouldn’t happen to him. But it did. It really made me think, you know? It’s like a wake-up call, and I’m taking it seriously now.

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2025-12-14 10:49