Julia Barresi put into induced coma after ‘Bali belly’ triggered seizures

A 19-year-old Aussie was put into an induced coma after a bad case of “Bali belly” triggered seizures while she was on holiday with friends.

A fit and healthy young woman was placed in a medically induced coma after a bad case of “Bali belly” triggered seizures.

Julia Barresi, 19, had been feeling unwell for several days while on holiday with friends on the Indonesian island.

She was rushed to hospital when she started suffering seizures and was flown home to Australia where she is currently being treated at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Ms Barresi was rushed to intensive care.

Her mother Jen Barresi said Julia would undergo an MRI on Monday.

“She’s a healthy, vibrant, switched on, beautiful human being. She’s my best friend in the whole wide world,” Ms Barresi told Daily Mail Australia.

“She’s never had a seizure. She’s had health issues when she was younger but she’s perfectly healthy now.”

Ms Barresi said she had booked a flight to Bali after hearing her daughter was sick.

“Julia and I were communicating constantly and on Monday (July 1) she just didn’t seem good so I booked a flight to come over first thing Tuesday,” she said.

“And then her beautiful friends rang me. They called me and said, ‘she’s having seizures’ and I just said, ‘get her straight in the cab, don’t wait for an ambulance and get her straight to the hospital’.”

Ms Barresi said she believed that the seizures were caused by low sodium levels trigged by the illness.

Ms Barresi, 19, suffered seizures after feeling unwell in Bali.

“She’s not a big drinker. I don’t even think she would have drank much at all because she was sick, so she wouldn’t have touched it,” she said.

“She’s very careful with her food, with hygiene, the water, everything. So there’s nothing that she’s done to cause what’s happened.”

A GoFundMe page has been started for the family to help pay Julia’s medical bills.

Her flight back to Australia could end up costing the family $170,000 alone.

It is Julia's 20th birthday on July 29 and Ms Barresi is hoping her daughter is well enough to celebrate.

“She’s been through hell and back but she’ll bounce back. Anyone who knows Julia knows how special she is, she doesn’t have a nasty bone in her body.”

Originally published as Julia Barresi put into induced coma after ‘Bali belly’ triggered seizures