Mackay mum Krystal Shaw shares grief over baby son’s death

A heartbroken mum is devastated she could only hold her nine-week-old dead baby boy for 15 minutes as an investigation was launched into the cause of his death.

A heartbroken Mackay mum is devastated she could only hold her dead baby boy for 15 minutes after rushing to hospital to be by his side.

Nine-week-old Xandyn Turnbull died on Sunday morning after being unresponsive at a Mackay home.

His death is being investigated by authorities.

His mum Krystal Shaw says she is now living in a “nightmare that doesn’t end” as she and Xandyn’s dad, Daniel Turnbull, pick up the pieces of their shattered family.

“We’re all so confused as to why life is so cruel,” Krystal said.

The mum-of-six had was away from home when she received a phone call Daniel delivering gut-wrenching news: their son “had passed away”.

“It was the most emptiest, heartbreaking, hated thing,” Krystal said.

“I hated myself, self-hate that I wasn’t there.

“Like mum-guilt. Bad.”

Xandyn Michael-Lee Turnbull, born January 4, 2023, passed away on March 12, 2023. Picture: Krystal Shaw

She said when she arrived at the Mackay Base Hospital, child protection officers were already on scene.

Krystal said she had to wait an extra 20 minutes to enter the hospital room.

“When I finally got to hold Xandyn, I didn’t even get an hour with him,” she said.

Xandyn Michael-Lee Turnbull, born January 4, 2023, passed away on March 12, 2023. Picture: Krystal Shaw

Before being rushed to hospital, Xandyn had been with siblings and father Daniel.

Krystal said Xandyn had woken up during the night and so Daniel fed him, changed his nappy and placed him back to sleep.

She said when Daniel woke up next, he found Xandyn unresponsive.

Xandyn Michael-Lee Turnbull, born January 4, 2023, pictured with dad Daniel Turnbull, passed away on March 12, 2023. Picture: Krystal Shaw

She said he performed CPR and an ambulance took them to hospital, but her baby could not be revived.

“Daniel’s very distraught, empty, heartbroken, confused,” she said.

“The day before I left to go to the music festival actually, Xandyn just started being like happy and playing with his toys and talking.

“You’d tickle him and he would just giggle … he had really bad reflux and stuff like that since birth so we finally found formula and he just became really content over the last week.

Mackay parents Daniel Turnbull and Krystal Shaw are grieving the loss of their nine-week-old son, Xandyn.

Krystal was overcome with emotion when she shared some of her favourite memories of her brief time with her baby who was born on January 4.

“When you used to do the bicycle thing with his legs to get him moving, he’d sit there and the last memory I have with him is of him giggling, and his little toe that comes out all the time,” she said.

“And when he’d smile, he’d have his tongue out and he’d squint one of his eyes half-shut like he was a pirate or something.

“He was cheeky … and his big blue eyes … my little Aboriginal baby that’s got blue-eyes.”

Xandyn (middle) has five older siblings (from left): Indi, Parker, Alierra, Addyson, and Hunter. Picture: Krystal Shaw.

For now, Xandyn’s five older siblings – Indie, Hunter, Alierra, Parker, and Addyson – are in the care of family members as Krystal and Daniel take time as a couple to “process” their new reality.

“It doesn’t feel real, it feels like we’re just in a nightmare that just won’t end,” Krystal said.

“We just want answers, that’s all we want.

“An autopsy is being done.

“It was gut-wrenching knowing they were going to do that.

“We didn’t have a choice. It’s just a protocol that they take.”

The parents have only just mustered the strength to tell their children Xandyn had grown his angel wings, to be with his aunty, cousin, Nanny and Grandma.

“I just don’t want any more death in our family,” Krystal said.

“It’s not fair at all to take someone so innocent and so little.

“He didn’t get the experience to taste food, he didn’t even get to go to the beach, the first time riding a bike.”

Xandyn Michael-Lee Turnbull, born January 4, 2023, passed away on March 12, 2023. Picture: Krystal Shaw

Krystal said they were arranging a private funeral for close family and friends and a GoFundMe was being launched to help cover the costs.

She wanted people to be mindful of what was posted on social media and asked for privacy during this difficult time.

Krystal also thanked those who had left condolence messages for the family.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said officers were investigating the sudden death of an infant on Sunday, March 12, but could not comment further as investigations were ongoing.

The Department of Child Safety, and the Mackay Hospital and Health Service declined to comment, as the matter was under police investigation.