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Instagram fitness model dies after freak kitchen accident, family says

(CNN) A popular social media fitness personality died after what can only be described as a freak accident involving a whipped cream canister.

"Le bonheur n'est pas une destination à atteindre mais une façon de voyager."🌟 • • "Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling."🌟

Rebecca Burger was a French fitness blogger and competitor with more than 150,000 Instagram followers. According to a cautionary Instagram post written by her family, a pressurized whipped cream dispenser exploded, hitting the 33-year-old in the thorax and sending her into cardiac arrest Sunday.

Voici un exemple de siphon à chantilly qui a explosé et percuté le thorax de Rebecca, entraînant son décès. Précision : le siphon qui a engendré sa mort quant à lui été mis sous scellé. N'utilisez pas ce genre d'ustensile chez vous ! Plusieurs dizaines de milliers d'appareils défectueux sont encore en circulation.

"This is an example of the whipped cream siphon that exploded and hit Rebecca's thorax, leading to her death," her family wrote under a photo of a metal device. "To be clear: The dispenser that led to her death was sealed. Do not use this type of utensil! Tens of thousands of defective devices are still out there."

French police confirmed the death to CNN and said an investigation has been launched by the prosecutor's office in the French town of Mulhouse. Authorities also said the cause of death is not yet confirmed.

Regional newspaper L'Alsace reported Burger's heart stopped during the accident and she was temporarily revived by paramedics, but later died at a hospital.

Though it sounds incomprehensible, and the specific cause of Burger's death hasn't been confirmed, serious injury due to whipped cream dispensers is not unheard of in France. 60 Million Consumers, a French consumer group, says such pressurized devices have led to serious injuries, including the loss of an eye in one case and chest fractures in another.

Burger's fans and followers flooded her social media accounts with messages of disbelief and mourning. Burger often shared photos of her travels, fashion and food. Women's Best, a fitness company that often partnered with the model, posted a tribute to Burger, calling her a "beautiful soul."

We are sorry to announce the sad news of losing this beautiful soul. Our french athlete Rebecca Burger (@RebeccaBlikes) passed away. Rebecca was not only a great fitness figure but a generous and kind person to work with. Please pray for her soul to rest in peace and for her family to stay strong. We will always be proud of you Rebecca ❤

In one of her last posts, Burger posed, smiling, and reflected on all she had accomplished.

Une belle journée s'achève ☀️💕 • Beaucoup de voyages à venir et de nouveaux projets. • Il m'arrive de me poser en ce moment et de réfléchir à tout ce que j'ai déjà accompli et ce que je m'apprête à vivre ... Je me dis alors que la vie est belle🍀 • Nous n'avons pas de crédit sur le temps donc profitons-en pleinement 💗 • Tenue: @womensbest.fr

"A beautiful day has come to an end," she wrote. "A lot of trips coming, and new projects. I realized I should sit still right now and reflect on everything I've already accomplished and what I'm about to experience. I tell myself, life is good.

"We don't have any control over time so make the absolute most of it."

CNN's Karolina Rozwadowski in Paris contributed to this report.
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