Young Mackay woman dies suddenly from asthma attack

A young Queensland woman who died suddenly from a shock asthma attack has been remembered as a “sweet girl who loved her family”.

Kiearna Freeburn died suddenly over the weekend from an asthma attack. Picture: Supplied

A 21-year-old Queensland woman who died suddenly at the weekend from an asthma attack has been remembered as a “beautiful soul”.

Kiearna Freeburn’s life was cut short when she suffered an asthma attack at the family home in North Mackay.

Family friend Emily Langer said Kiearna’s parents Chris and Bec, her brothers Jyden, 19, and Rylan, 17, had been struggling with their loss.

“They were such a close knit family,” Ms Langer said.

“It’s hard for any parent to lose a child but Chris and Bec were seriously just all about their children.

“They have taken it really hard and it was so sudden and unexpected. It’s been really crushing for them.”

Kiearna Freeburn died suddenly over the weekend from an asthma attack. Picture: Supplied

Ms Langer said Kiearna was a “beautiful soul” and enjoyed her work at Harrup Park Country Club.

“She was just all about her family,” she said.

“She enjoyed going to work and being social but a lot of her home time was just all about family time.

“She was definitely a sweet girl and loved her family.”

Kiearna’s family made the decision to donate her organs as it was something she would have wanted.

“[Kiearna] was so giving, always wanted to help people and never wanted anyone to ever feel bad or left out or anything,” Ms Langer said.

“Her parents just knew that if there was a way she could have helped in the end that she would have wanted to do it.

“She was definitely always about helping others.”

Ms Langer said Kiearna’s family received a text message that all her organs were used and had been successfully transplanted.

“That was something that really brought a little bit of peace to them,” she said.

The latest Census data revealed about 2.7 million (10.7 per cent) Australians had asthma in 2020-21 and in the same year, figures commissioned by the National Asthma Council Australia showed there were 417 asthma-related deaths made up of 274 females and 143 males.

The mortality figures are worryingly high, with respiratory physician and National Asthma Council Australia spokesperson Dr Jonathan Burdon, describing asthma as one of the country’s most widespread chronic health conditions.

“It is concerning that the number of women dying from asthma is going up the last few years rather than going down and women now account for 65 per cent of all deaths from asthma in Australia,” he said.

“Australia has one of the highest prevalence rates of asthma in the world... it is crucial that people are aware of the risks.”

Kiearna with her family. Picture: Supplied

Ms Langer started a GoFundMe page to help Kiearna’s family and ease some of the financial stress as they grieve.

“Knowing Chris and Bec and how much they’re all about their family,” she said.

“As much as they would want to just sit and be as a family, it would be that stress of taking time off work and how we’re going to get the bills paid.

“That was my major thing. I didn’t want them on top of everything they are going through to be worrying so much about how they’re going to pay to send their girl off correctly.

“And how they’re going to manage to have at least a week off together.

“I really wanted to take that burden off them because there’s not a whole lot you can do for someone in this situation. So I think anything that could help.”

Since its launch, the page has raised more than $9000 within a day.