Aussie mum of 13 dies at age 47 after catching the flu

A mother of 13 has died following two weeks in the ICU after she came down with the flu.

A mother of 13 has died following a two-week health battle in intensive care after catching the flu.

Julie Theobald, 47, caught a terrible flu and was rushed to a Melbourne hospital — her first time on a plane — after her condition began to deteriorate.

The flu became pneumonia and exposed other underlying health conditions, her daughter Jessica said in a GoFundMe.

Julie Theobald, 47, caught a terrible flu and was rushed to hospital. Picture: GoFundMe

Mrs Theobald was in the intensive care unit for two weeks before she passed away.

“Mum leaves behind 13 amazing children, ageing from seven years to 31 years old and her devoted husband/our Dad, Billy,” Jessica said.

“We’ve all been extremely shocked and heartbroken of this news, we could have never imagined loosing our mum this early on. This is our last opportunity to give her the best send off possible.”

Jessica said no one ever likes reaching out for help and the family didn’t expect to hit their $13,000 goal but they were trying to lessen the burden on their father.

“No amount is too little if you are able to help and if not please share to someone that may be able to,” she said.

The mum-of-13 died after two weeks in the ICU

It comes after New South Wales residents were warned last month of the “triple threat” of surging flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) detections.

The latest NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report detailed a 22 per cent jump in people presenting to hospital emergency departments with flu-like illnesses.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said health authorities expected the flu figures to remain high for “several weeks to come”.

“Flu is rapidly increasing across the state,” she said.

Dr Chant also urged Australians over 65 to get their free vaccination, with just 52.4 per cent of people in the age group currently vaccinated.