Beau Horan’s family honour 16yo after snake bite death

A family has broken their silence about the horrifying moment their “perfect boy” collapsed in front of them.

The mother of 16-year-old Beau Horan, who passed away after a snake bite in November, has spoken out about their first Christmas without him. Picture: Supplied

The mother of 16-year-old Beau Horan, who died from a snake bite in November, has detailed the family’s first Christmas without their “goofball” son, taking comfort in how his passing saved four lives.

Beau was bitten by a brown snake on the foot on Monday, November 25 at his family home in Wurdong Heights, south of Gladstone.

Beau’s mother, Bek Eddy, explained that he was helping around the house in preparation for a family trip when he and his sister Jodie-Lee, 18, spotted a juvenile eastern brown snake moving away from them.

“From what we understand he didn’t realise he had been bitten because the bite felt more like a scratch – we had no idea that was what an eastern brown snake bite felt like,” Mrs Eddy explained.

About 15 minutes later Beau mentioned to his family he was feeling unwell before he collapsed to the floor.

(From left) Jodie-Lee Horan, Haylee Horan, and Beau Horan. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Eddy was at work when she received the call from her husband, Rodney Eddy, that Beau had been bitten by a snake.

He was rushed to Gladstone Hospital and was later flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a CareFlight helicopter.

Beau spent Tuesday and Wednesday on life support before he tragically passed away.

One month later, the family continued to cherish his memory, making sure he was included in their Christmas plans and surrounded themselves with family.

“We lit a candle for Beau on Christmas, we have an area set up for him – a little plaque as well,” she explained.

“He was looking forward to little meringues for Christmas, it was all he wanted to eat for Christmas Day. So the girls got them, and we had them as a little tribute to Beau.

“I don’t really like meringues but I will eat them every year for him.”

Mrs Eddy said her two daughters Jodie-Lee and Haylee bought an advent calendar for Beau to open every day during December.

Beau Horan’s family plan to play his favourite songs and share memories of him on New Year’s Eve. Picture: Supplied

The mother of 16-year-old Beau Horan, who passed away after a snake bite in November, has spoken out about their first Christmas without him. Picture: Supplied

“It felt like he was still participating, they would open their own and then open his and share it back and forth. They still gave him some chocolates and put it in front of his stocking,” she said.

The family plans to celebrate with friends on New Year’s Eve and play Beau’s favourite songs.

“He loves Eminem but only the old Eminem and Nirvana too,” Mrs Eddy said.

Mrs Eddy said the family continued to keep the memory of their “big goofball” alive, always reminding each other of their favourite moments with him.

“He never took anything seriously, his favourite thing to do was you would ask him to do something, and he would say no with a smile and then go do it. He just liked to joke around like that,” Mrs Eddy explained.

“At school, he would help out, he was always helping out with the extra-curricular stuff before and after school.

“He was part of the robotics club, and he would go in on weekends to help his team get ready for their competitions.

Bek Eddy with her three children. (Left) Jodie-Lee, Beau and Haylee. Picture: Supplied

“That carried on at home – he was his younger sister’s protector but he was also someone who looked up to his older sister. He was the perfect middle boy.

“Now every night I knock on his door and say good night to him.”

The family were taking comfort in the fact Beau saved four lives through organ donation, which also gave them two more days to say goodbye.

“There’s the misconception that a snake bite prevents you from being an organ donor. It prevents you from being a tissue donor, but you can still donate your organs,” Mrs Eddy explained.

”In deciding to be an organ donor, we actually got an extra two days with Beau.

“It allowed time for his sisters had were able to come down, it allowed his dad to travel from New South Wales, and everyone was able to say goodbye.

“It seems to help us think that, out of something so tragic, he has helped four people – three of the four were able to go home for Christmas.”

Mrs Eddy urged Queenslanders to be informed on what an eastern brown snake bite felt like, and to be educated should they live on rural or natural property. 

“If we had been aware of this we would have checked him more thoroughly for the bite,” she said.