Coroner’s decision narrows focus in tragic death of Tristian James Frahm

A coroner has ruled against the family’s request to broaden the inquest into the death of a young boy from a brown snake, as sad new details are revealed about his home life.

The coronial inquest into the death of 11-year-old Tristian James Frahm who died in 2021 after being bitten by a brown snake in the South Burnett will go ahead in Toowoomba courts next month. Photo: Supplied

The review into the death of 11-year-old Tristian James Frahm will remain narrowly focused, despite a request from his mother’s family to broaden the investigation.

The coronial inquest into Tristian’s death after a brown snake bit him on a South Burnett property in 2021 will go ahead in a Toowoomba court in June 2025.

In Coroners Court of Queensland documents the coroner declared they would not broaden the scope of the inquest to look into claims Child Safety failed to remove Tristian from his father’s care “before a serious incident occurred”.

Tristian Frahm with his aunt Gemma Thorley, was remembered as a boy with “striking blue eyes who felt a deep connection with animals and loved spending time in nature”. Photo: Supplied

Tristian was bitten by a brown snake at a birthday celebration near Murgon on November 20, 2021, and died early the next morning after complaining of feeling sick and vomiting multiple times.

His father, Kerrod James Frahm, was charged with manslaughter after his son’s death and police alleged he did not take his son’s illness seriously.

However, in August 2024, the Department of Justice confirmed it would not be taking the case to trial and the charges were dropped.

During a committal hearing in November 2023, witnesses testified that people on the property checked Tristian for a snake bite but could not find anything.

A pre-inquest hearing revealed Tristian was slurring his words, vomiting and struggling to stand up, but the adults assumed he was drunk because one of the other children at the property told them he had “stolen some beers” from an esky.

Tristian’s maternal family asked the coroner to broaden the inquest to look into whether there was an increased risk of harm or accident while in his father’s care and whether there was a systemic failure by Child Safety in not removing him.

At the time of his death, Tristian was living with his father Kerrod (pictured), and reportedly had no contact with his mother. Photo: Supplied

At the time of his death, Tristian was living with his father in Murgon, and reportedly had no contact with his mother.

Court documents revealed he went to live with his father full-time in 2020, after spending several years hopping between different homes, and family members became concerned about his physical and emotional wellbeing while living with his mother.

Over the following years, Child Safety responded to concerns reported from “community and professional notifiers” about Tristian’s safety in both households, however it was found there were “significant concerns” if he was to return to living with his mother.

In May 2021, there was a police and Child Safety investigation which found that Tristian did not need protection.

Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard said the Department of Education’s child death review report showed Tristian had “excellent” school attendance, he loved his father and had a “good and protective” relationship with his father’s partner.

Kerrod Frahm leaves the Murgon Court House after he was charged with manslaughter; charges which were dropped in 2024. Picture: Liam Kidston

The coroner declined to investigate these claims as part of the inquest and found that, based on the available evidence, those issues were not connected closely enough with the circumstances of Tristian’s death to have directly caused or significantly contributed to his death.

“The snake bite tragically occurred in the context of a young boy who was enjoying his time with family on the property, doing something that made him happy,” Coroner Kirkegaard said.

“A young boy who, according to the maternal family’s Family Statement, was known for his deep connection to the earth, and his love of outdoor activities including riding bicycles and motorbikes.

“It occurred on a property where (he) regularly spent weekends enjoying what pre-teenage boys like to do in a rural environment without previously coming to any significant harm.

“Tristian’s death did not occur in the context of repeated failures by his father to seek medical treatment for a potentially life threatening condition or injury.

“It is unrelated to Tristian’s state of mind while in his father’s care.

“It did not occur because of his father’s domestically violent behaviours,” the Coroner said

Tristian Frahm with his grandmother, Samantha Skerritt. Photo Supplied

The coroner also denied the maternal family’s request to hear from additional witness, which included witnesses from the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak and extended family members, and to obtain additional school records.

Rachel Dorman and Jacob Bryant, who were both present at the property on the weekend Tristian died, and Mr Frahm, will be called to give evidence at the inquest, as well as the investigating police officer, the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, two emergency physicians, and Sharon Frahm.

The coroner will also examine mobile phone records of the adult witnesses and Tristian’s medical records.

The inquest will examine the events leading up to Tristian’s death, public awareness around snake bite symptoms and first aid, and whether recommendations can be made to prevent similar tragedies in the future.