Family heartbroken after teenage girl dies of flu at home

She was “full of sunshine” and dreamt of playing AFLW. But a 13-year-old Baxter girl has died just three days after falling ill, while another 9-year-old Wodonga boy spent a week in intensive care.

Crystal-Lee Wightley died at home in Baxter.

A 13-year-old girl died at home of flu-like symptoms just three days after falling ill.

Crystal-Lee Wightley — who dreamt of playing AFLW — was last night being remembered as a “divine” soul “full of sunshine”.

The Baxter girl’s heartbroken family told the Sunday Herald Sun she was laughing and playing with cousins only days before falling ill.

It came as a Wodonga mother of a nine-year-old boy struck down with the flu told how her son lay in intensive care for a week with machines helping him breathe.

The flu has claimed the lives of 50 Victorians so far this year amid warnings the worst is not over yet.

Crystal-Lee’s mother found the beloved schoolgirl unconscious in her bedroom on Friday morning.

She could not be revived.

“We are all shattered, everyone is mourning,” Crystal-Lee’s aunt, Yvette Southgate, told the Sunday Herald Sun.

Crystal-Lee was laughing and playing with cousins only days before falling ill.

“None of us thought we needed to go to the hospital, she was perfectly healthy and was giggling and laughing with her cousins days before.

“Crystal wasn’t showing signs this was coming, but this was deadly.

“We are in a fair bit of denial — it seems so impossible, it shouldn’t be allowed to happen.”

The Mount Erin College year 7 student loved playing netball and football.

“She was divine and full of sunshine,’’ Mrs Southgate said.

“She was a happy soul, just a delight. Daisy Pearce was her all-time favourite football player.”

Crystal-Lee fell ill on Tuesday with symptoms including a cold, fever, body aches and an intermittent cough. She woke on Friday at about 5.30am still feeling unwell.

Her mother Dymanty Fulham sent her back to bed knowing they had a doctor’s appointment for early that morning. Half an hour later, when Ms Fulham checked on her daughter, she found her lying unconscious and phoned triple-0.

Paramedics could not revive Crystal-Lee and she was pronounced dead in her own home.

Crystal-Lee’s two brothers Lincoln, 11, and Tommi, 4, were also struck down with flu-like symptoms a week earlier but had begun to improve.

Mrs Southgate said none of the three children were vaccinated against the flu.

Crystal’s grandmother, Pam, had fallen ill with what she believed to be the flu only two weeks before but did not seek medical treatment and recovered on her own.

Crystal-Lee loved sport.

Crystal-Lee had been a fit and healthy teen.

“Crystal only got sick on Tuesday night, we’re not talking a lot of time,” Mrs Southgate said.

“By Wednesday morning all four of the family were ill.

“Crystal’s mother Dymanty is very broken, she is just going through the motions.

“There is a fair bit of anger. How did the sun get to shine on such a miserable day?”

Loved ones were rallying around the family.

“You hear about the vaccine being for the young and the elderly, the vulnerable … it’s not for the healthy girl who plays netball,” Mrs Southgate said.

“If one good thing has come out of this, the whole family is booked in for an injection next week.

“Just do it. You get sick and you have a cough, this season don’t just sit at home. This season, go and get the injection.”

Australia’s worst flu season on record has so far claimed more than 220 lives nationwide. Three children not including Crystal-Lee, three adults and 44 people in aged care homes were from Victoria.

Wodonga boy Dylan Hoff, struck down with influenza and pneumonia in both lungs, was forced to rely on a ventilator to breathe for five nights.

Dylan Hoff, 9, in hospital.

Mum Donna said the severity of Dylan’s illness was a “massive shock”.

The little boy, who has Down syndrome, was taken to Albury Base Hospital before spending a week in the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Mum Donna Hoff said her son had a weakened immune system and had suffered pneumonia and viruses before. But this was his first time with the flu and its severity was a “massive shock”.

“It was terrifying,’’ she said.

“I was so scared for him. It makes you sad, even though you know they’re getting better and they have to get through that to get better, it’s just eye-opening.”

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Mrs Hoff said she and Dylan were due to get their flu vaccine in April but she put it off when Dylan and her daughter both had gastroenteritis.

Dylan has since left hospital.

“He’s getting there slowly, he’s certainly not 100 per cent yet,” Mrs Hoff said.

“He’ll hopefully be back to his cheeky self soon. But he can drop down again if we’re not careful. You’ve just got to be vigilant.

“If you’ve got this flu and you’re coughing and sneezing, put a mask on, like seriously don’t go to work, don’t go to school, because you’ve just got no idea until you’re there.”

The Coroner will prepare a report on Crystal-Lee’s death.

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