A young 11-year-old Tristian Frahm was at his dad’s rural property near Murgon, Queensland when a tragedy that changed his family forever took place.
Keep reading to know more.
11-year-old Tristian Frahm was spending the day helping his dad Kerrod with two others boys with some chores on the bush block.
The place was surrounded by thick scrub, a usual hangout for brown snakes and red-bellied black snakes. However, the boys were on the mower barefoot, having a great time.
About 3:30pm, Tristian and his stepbrother took the ride-on mower down to a creek so they could take a swim.
Tristian fell off and his stepbrother think he was told by him that he had been bitten by a snake. However, his brother insisted it must have just been a stick and later the adults were unable to find any fang marks.
When Tristian made his way back to the camp, he was pale consued. He was also slurring his words, swaying back and forth and vomiting.
According to reports from the Coroners Court of Queensland in an inquest document, witness Jacob Bryant recalled that someone had thought the young boy had stolen alcohol from the esky.
Kerrod believed this and according to the report said to his son, “If you’ve been sneaking my beers then go lay down you d***head.”
He was washed off in the shower and went to ‘sleep it off.’ However, he only got worse during the night, vomiting several times and complaining of severe stomach pain. He eventually ended up collapsing. His younger brother attempted to wake their father up but was unable to.
By next morning, Tristian had passed. He had died sometime during the night and it was not due to alcohol but a deadly bite from a brown snake, which had actually taken place.
The inquest later proved that Tristian’s death was caused by the brown snake envenomation, a rare result of a snakebite, something that happens only 3% of the times. In such cases, it causes internal bleeding and cardiac collapse which is exactly what happened to Tristian.
Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard stated that the tragedy could have been prevented had Tristian recieved medical attention early, then he ‘would more likely than not have survived’.
The inquest also showed that the family property did not have phone reception, a first aid kit or internet. However, it was only a ten-minute drive from Murgon Hospital. Experts say that brown snake bites often do not leave visible fang marks but their symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and dizziness before an eventual collapse.
Dr Mark Little, a toxicologist and emergency physician, told the court that only 20% of people in Australia who are bitten by snakes are given the right first aid before they get to a hospital.
On the matter, Coroner Kirkegaard also shared, “People must take even the possibility of a snakebite seriously by immediately calling emergency services, applying a pressure bandage, and keeping the person still.”
On the matter, Coroner Kirkegaard also added: “People must take even the possibility of a snakebite seriously by immediately calling emergency services, applying a pressure bandage, and keeping the person still.”
She ended the report by saying, “Let this be Tristian’s legacy.”
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