Dana Brooke Dallas McCarver
WWE star Dana Brooke paid tribute to her late boyfriend, bodybuilding star Dallas McCarver, on Instagram. He died after he apparently choked on food. His official cause of death wasn't immediately known. Instagram/Dana Brooke

WWE star Dana Brooke took to Instagram Tuesday after the tragic death of her boyfriend, star bodybuilder Dallas McCarver. Brooke mourned the athlete, who died the just after midnight after he apparently choked on food. McCarver was 26 years old. A coroner has not yet ruled an official cause of death.

“So here it goes, I'll try and be short — Aug. 22 the lord received another angel, who happens [to] be my LIFE. MY Dallas the one WHO ONLY UNDERSTOOD ME!” Brooke started her message.

“I can speak on the behalf of his family the love and support you all are showing for him and us is OVERWHELMING!!” the wrestler said. “Dallas would always tell me, ‘Just keep swimming his little pengutimous (hippo mixed with penguin).’

Brooke explained he would have the same message for his fans, friends and family. “He would tell everyone the same — just keep swimming, keep moving through life and he will be your angel above!!”

She then paid tribute to McCarver, who started bodybuilding when he was 21 years old. “He had a way with making people laugh!! Dallas was an exceptional body builder, but I didn't see him for that... I saw him for HIM AND HIS HEART!! He is the best individual I have ever met — my ying to my yang... finished my sentences and knew what I was thinking before I'd say it!!”

McCarver was apparently going to make his foray into professional wrestling. “We had it all figured out — new WWE superstar ‘Big country’ and ‘Country Strong’ mixed tag team!!!”

“You were my life. You are my life. I still smell [you] and feel [your] presence, NEVER LEAVE MY SIDE. Like I have always asked; and u said NO NEVER Mrs. McCarver — I had your back and I knew you had mine!! You’re our angel,” Brook finished.

The last time Brooke talked to McCarver was hours before he died. He was getting ready to make dinner, TMZ reported Tuesday. His final words were, “I love you. Goodbye.”

There are no signs of foul play in McCarver’s death and didn’t appear that he tried to hang himself, TMZ noted.

McCarver’s last Instagram post was from Monday, where he shared a video of himself lifting 160-pound dumbbells. “Could've been a little slower and better under control with these 160s today... but sometimes you've just got to let the intensity flow,” he wrote in his final post. The clip was viewed nearly 700,000 times.

McCarver was 6-foot-1 and weighed 300 pounds. He won multiple competitions and came in 8th place at the Mr. Olympia competition last year.

He suffered a health scare in March when he passed out on stage at the 2017 Arnold Classic Australia. Since then, however, he seemingly recovered.

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