‘Wake us from this hell:’ Army cadet sergeant dies weeks after 16th birthday

A cadet sergeant has been remembered as a “caring boy” and “great friend” after he died suddenly just weeks after his 16th birthday.

A cadet sergeant has died just weeks after his 16th birthday, leaving his family “completely grief-stricken”.

Perth teenager Liam Grant “unexpectedly passed away” on Friday, less than a month after celebrating his 16th birthday on December 26.

In a heartfelt post on Facebook, Liam’s mother Kelly Ann Grant said her family have been left “broken” after losing the “brightest star in the sky”.

“I can’t believe we are sharing this,” she wrote. “Time stopped forever 19th January 2024 and will never move forward,.”

“It would’ve been then just 24 days ago we celebrated your 16th birthday, just days ago we picked up your car … we have plans, so many fun things ahead and then in a blink of an eye it all changed.”

The 16-year-old was remembered for being the “brightest star in the sky”. Picture: Facebook

Liam’s mother said there were “so many fun things ahead” for her son. Picture: Facebook

She went on to describe the 16-year-old as a “perfect son” and “amazing big brother” who inspired many people.

“Tell us it’s not true,” she continued. “Wake us from this hell torturous place.”

Others have also paid tribute to the teenager on social media, remembering Liam as a “beautiful young man” and “great friend”.

“Such a beautiful, loving, caring boy,” one person wrote.

“You were a great friend gone way too soon,” wrote another.

Liam was promoted to the rank of cadet sergeant in July last year, according to the Daily Mail.

On January 1, he shared a series of photos of his friends on Instagram, writing he was thankful for the year and “all the friends I made along the way”.

A GoFundMe set up to support the family has raised over $19,000 at the time of publication.