Steele family told investigation into son’s death will take months

The family of a bright and promising young man cut down in his prime by a mysterious fatal illness are moving ahead with plans to farewell their ‘loving, wonderful boy’, as they face an excruciating wait.

While Cooper Steele’s family can finally move ahead with their plans to farewell their ‘loving, wonderful boy’, they will need to endure many more months of uncertainty as the coroner continues to investigate his mysterious death.

The family of Cooper Steele, the QUT student who died in his sleep aged just 21, have been able to experience a degree of closure with the release of his body from the Brisbane coroner.

After Cooper died peacefully while sleeping at his Brisbane home around 3.45pm on Friday, October 13, his body was held at the John Tonge Centre, a mortuary at Coopers Plains in South Brisbane, while the coroner performed some preliminary investigations to establish the cause of death.

While Cooper’s body has since been released by the coroner, arriving in Bundaberg on Wednesday, October 25, his grief stricken family, including his mother, Vicki Steele, have longer to wait for answers about the mysterious illness that caused the worsening seizures and paralysis that ultimately led to his death from heart and lung failure.

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“We have been advised that the coroner’s investigation will take months to finalise before we get an answer,” Vicki said.

Vicki was full of praise for the coroner’s staff who she said had been “wonderful” in keeping the family updated.

Doctors told Cooper's family that he died peacefully in his sleep at the Brisbane home he shared with his partner, Ellisa.

Now that Cooper’s body has been returned to his Bargara home, the Steele family has been able to move forward with plans for a funeral service to celebrate his life and say goodbye to their beloved son, grandson, brother, uncle and friend.

The funeral will be held at The Branyan Gardens Crematorium at 9.30am on Friday, November 3, with Cooper’s friends and family welcome to attend.

Tributes for Cooper have continued to flow on social media, with neighbours of the Steeles remembering “the gorgeous curly haired boy next door”.

Tributes continue to flow for Cooper Steele, remembered by family and friends as 'the gorgeous curly haired boy'.

Louise Cody said in a Facebook post she would “always remember him as this little boy, with bare feet, and a head of curly blonde hair running around the neighbourhood”.

“He’d randomly just come over, check out what we were doing and then leave again,” Louise said.

“Beautiful boy, beautiful man.”

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Many people expressed their condolences to Cooper’s family, with Maria Karatzis speaking to Vicki about her “beautiful and loving boy”.

“Never forgotten; he left a mark on every one who met him,” Maria said.

“I will never forget that beautiful face. Wrapping you in all the love and warmth Vicki. Your darling Cooper will be with you always.”

Friends supported Harrison Steele, Cooper’s older brother whom Vicki described as his “best mate”.

Friends told Harrison Steele (pictured, left, with sister Madison) that Cooper 'will always be your little brother mate'.

“He will always be your little brother mate … for ever!,” said Neil McPhillips.

“We feel so much for you guys!”

Kris Freeman summed up the feelings of many when she told Vicki “21 is way too young”.

“It makes absolutely no sense … I want to wrap my love around you now and forever,” Kris said.

NewsMail offers our heartfelt condolences to Cooper’s grieving friends and family at this difficult time.