Presley Gerber’s final moments included cardiac arrest, according to newly surfaced 911 dispatch audio.
The 27-year-old model and only son of supermodel Cindy Crawford went into cardiac arrest before his death on Sept. 20, the dispatch call revealed. Emergency responders were dispatched to a California rehab facility in the Los Angeles area where Gerber had been living in a sober house with several other residents.
Authorities remained on scene for approximately three hours following the initial call. Police, ambulance crews and firefighters all responded to the incident, a source present at the facility said.
Gerber had been staying in the sober living house located on the grounds of the treatment center at the time of his death. The arrangement is common in recovery programs, where patients transition to group housing with peer support while continuing treatment services.
Reports said that Gerber died from a drug overdose. The specific substance or substances involved have not been publicly identified pending toxicology results or official coroner findings.
The death marks a devastating loss for the Crawford-Gerber family. Presley was the elder of two children shared by Crawford, 58, and her husband Rande Gerber, a former model and nightlife entrepreneur. His younger sister Kaia Gerber, 23, has also built a successful modeling career.
Presley Gerber had been open about his struggles with mental health and substance use in previous years. In 2020, he spoke publicly about his experiences with depression and anxiety, and at one point had sought treatment for related issues. His modeling career had included work with major brands and appearances alongside his mother and sister in various campaigns.
The family has not issued a public statement regarding the dispatch audio or additional details about the circumstances of his death. Representatives for Crawford and Rande Gerber did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the initial reports.
Sober living homes, sometimes called halfway houses or recovery residences, typically provide structured environments for individuals transitioning from intensive addiction treatment back to independent living. Residents usually must maintain abstinence, attend support meetings and contribute to household responsibilities while paying rent.
The facility where Gerber died has not been publicly identified. California state regulations govern licensed residential treatment programs, though sober living homes themselves often operate without formal licensure depending on the level of services provided.
The 911 audio adds a concrete medical detail to what was already known about Gerber’s final hours. Cardiac arrest can result from multiple causes including opioid overdose, which has become increasingly common in fatalities involving substances such as fentanyl.
Gerber’s death at 27 places him among a troubling pattern of young fatalities in the entertainment and fashion industries. The age has become culturally associated with the so-called “27 Club” of musicians and artists who died at that same age, though Gerber’s circumstances differ as a model from a prominent family seeking recovery.
The investigation into the exact cause and manner of death continues. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office typically conducts toxicology testing in suspected overdose cases, with results sometimes taking weeks or months to finalize.