My teenager complained about a sore throat - the next day, he wouldn’t wake up

“We ask ourselves how what started as a sore throat, snotty nose and a cough on Tuesday to no longer with us three days later.” 

A mum is mourning the loss of her teenage son, who died one day after being diagnosed with the flu. 

It started with a sore throat. William Jones, 16, walked over to his mum in their home, complaining of a snotty nose, a sore throat and a chesty cough. 

His concerned mother, Rebecca, waited two days for his symptoms to settle before making a call to the GP.  

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Rebecca found her 16yo son unresponsive a day after being diagnosed with the flu. Picture: NZ Herald

Teen dies a day after flu diagnosis

But days passed, and his symptoms wouldn’t relent, so the Wellington woman gave the doctor a call. 

The GP informed the concerned mu that her son likely had the flu and to keep his fluids up while he recovered. 

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If symptoms persisted, the GP recommended Rebecca call back for further treatment. 

The next day, the mum-of-two walked into her son’s bedroom, ready to wake him up for the day. 

But she found him unresponsive in his bed; devastatingly, the 16yo boy couldn’t be revived, dying only a few days after contracting the flu.

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“We just don’t understand how this can happen to a boy who was barely ever sick and was very healthy,” Rebecca told the NZ Herald. 

“We ask ourselves how what started as a sore throat, snotty nose and a cough on Tuesday to no longer with us three days later.” 

The family has no clue why this happened, having to wait for the official report to shed light on the 16yo’s unexpected death. 

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William is remembered for his kindness and musical talent. Picture: NZ Herald

“Life will never be the same without my gorgeous 16-year-old boy”

The sudden and unexpected death of William has left an enormous hole in the Wellington community, with friends and family sharing their heartfelt condolences to the family. 

Will, who is remembered as a clever, funny and kind person, only recently earned his learner’s permit a few days after his 16th birthday. 

“William was an amazing, talented and very bright kind boy who we love so very much,” mum Rebecca said.

“He was a talented musician and had his future all planned out.

“Life will never be the same without my gorgeous 16-year-old boy.”

Students at his Wellington school have paid tribute to their classmate, describing him as a “sweet young man” and “a wonderful friend”.

According to NSW Health, there has been an almost 40 per cent increase in flu cases in 2024 alone, reporting 12,421 cases in the week ending June 22. 

“Influenza is having an enormous impact on our emergency departments at the moment,” said Health Minister Ryan Park, per the ABC. 

Originally published as My teenager complained about a sore throat - the next day, he wouldn’t wake up