Lauren had the perfect life with her husband but eight weeks after getting married, the unthinkable happened

An Australian woman has opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her husband just eight weeks after they were married.

The emotional story was shared by 24-year-old creator Blair Rubock, whose social media project Through Strangers Eyes has gained a devoted following for its raw, unfiltered conversations with everyday Australians.

Blair’s videos are simple but powerful, with a chair, a camera, and an open invitation for strangers to sit down and share their stories – often about love, loss, resilience, and the parts of life most people keep hidden.

In his latest clip, filmed on a Queensland beach, Blair sits with a woman named Lauren, whose quiet strength and devastating story struck a chord with viewers.

‘In 2017 I got married to my partner. We were together for eight years,’ Lauren began, recalling the man she described as a ‘beautiful free spirit’.

Lauren and husband Trent built a life together in Perth after years of dating. He was a passionate surfer, originally from Queensland, who promised his new wife he would travel back a few times a year to chase the waves he loved most.

‘We got married, and then he passed away suddenly while he was surfing eight weeks after,’ she revealed.

‘Just crazy, unexpected. [We’re] not even really sure to this day what really happened to him. It’s one of those freak things, his heart just stopped. Then I was left.’ 

The tragedy came just as the couple had purchased their first home together – a dream they’d only shared for seven short weeks. Alone and unable to afford the mortgage, Lauren decided to take a journey of her own.

‘He had a van… it had a bed in there, and I put an electrical system in there and some windows and just travelled around Australia for a year,’ Lauren told Blair.

‘I got in touch with Trent’s friends here [Queensland] and stayed and got a job, and then I met somebody two years on. Now I’ve got my son Van and I’ve got a little girl as well.’

Determined to honour Trent’s memory, Lauren even learned to surf, something he’d always encouraged her to do.

‘I went on our honeymoon by myself to a surf retreat and learnt to surf, and now I stay here and surf, and nurse, and mum, and let Trent’s spirit live through me.’

For Blair, who launched Through Strangers Eyes in response to his own questions about grief and mental health, stories like Lauren’s are at the heart of his mission.

‘Mental health is a scary thing,’ he said on his website.

‘To know that so many men and women struggle so much to speak about the things that weigh them down… brings tears to my eyes.’

By simply giving strangers a platform to be heard, Blair has turned fleeting conversations into moments of deep connection, reminding us how fragile life can be.

‘I wish to spread the kindness and perspective the video offers,’ Blair told Daily Mail.

‘[it is] a truly incredible story of unexpected tragedy and strength. It goes to show how uncertain life is and that things can change in a heartbeat.’

The video has already amassed more than 100,000 views, with thousands of comments from people moved by Lauren’s courage. 

The clip has resonated deeply with viewers, many of whom thanked Lauren for her vulnerability and praised Blair for creating a space where real, raw stories can be shared.

‘I’m sobbing,’ one commenter wrote.

‘The sun coming out as she talks about him,’ one observed in the clip.

‘He would be so proud of you,’ championed another.

Lauren’s story of love, loss, and rebuilding is proof that even the most devastating chapters can give way to hope.

‘What a tremendous story. May the waves of grief be gentle with your heart.’