Upsetting texts from dying teen on Europe trip to mum revealed

The teenager who died while on a school trip in Europe begged his mum for help in the days before he passed out and never woke up.

Devastating final text messages between a teenager who died while on a Europe school trip and his mum have shown the young boy was desperate to get well enough to enjoy the experience.

Melbourne Year 9 student Timothy Fehring, 15, died six days into the June 2019 trip, during which his deteriorating health was repeatedly mistaken for homesickness.

His mum, Barbara Fehring, received a string of messages from her son throughout his illness, which appeared to worsen as each day passed.

He initially messaged to say he was “very sick” after arriving in Germany, which he believed was linked to the spicy food he was served on the plane and in his dinner.

“Hey mum it’s 6.58 here and I’m very sick. I think it’s all the spicy food because I have been on Thai Airlines and they only gave me spicy food and now I’m having dinner that has spices in it because it’s German,” he wrote, according to an image of a text exchange shared with 7 News.

“I almost throw up and am working on getting better so I can have a better time. I’m going to sleep like a baby because it might be exhaustion. I have not slept in hours and I always feel dizzy,” the message read.

In a separate message, Timothy wrote: “Love you mummy and will keep you up to date with more.”

Stream your news live & on demand with Flash. From CNN International, Al Jazeera, Sky News, BBC World, CNBC & more. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

Timothy Fehring messaged his mum detailing how he was feeling. Picture: 7 News

About an hour later he offered another idea about what could be causing him to be unwell, suggesting the water he had been drinking might be contaminated.

“I also think it has to do with the water because someone had a blood nose when they had it and I was feeling sick so I might have to buy some water,” he wrote.

Shortly after that message he asked his mum for help with the water issue.

“I can’t buy the water because it’s just the same water ugh can you help me mum?”.

The teenager’s parents have spoken out following the release of a coroner’s report in July which documented the days leading to his death, arguing teachers were too fast to dismiss their son’s illness as homesickness.

“They kept throwing homesickness at us all the time,” Mrs Fehring told the publication.

“We’re like, ‘Timothy’s not homesick, he’s sick’ – and they didn’t want to address that at all. When he’s saying that he’s sick and there’s something not right … it’s the truth.”

Timothy with his sister Emma before leaving Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

The coroner’s report outlined how Timothy was vomiting from the beginning of the trip and how he couldn’t keep food down, was persistently exhausted and lost about five kilos in just a few days.

He was taken to a doctor who prescribed him a suppository to treat constipation and agreed homesickness may have contributed to him feeling unwell.

When his condition didn’t improve and negotiations were made to have him put on a plane back to Melbourne, he was taken to another doctor to get medical clearance to fly.

He was signed off to board the plane however after leaving the doctor’s room to go outside to cool off, he passed out while his supervising adult was inside paying the bill.

Timothy’s illness was suspected to be homesickness. Picture: Jason Edwards

Attempts to revive him via CPR were unsuccessful, and doctors were unable to bring him back to life after he was flown to hospital.

Timothy passed away at 1.22pm Friday, June 28.

After staff were informed of his passing, they delivered the news to his dad.

His mum was told by close friends at the airport after she arrived in Melbourne.

Timothy’s body was repatriated to Victoria on July 22 and a secondary autopsy was performed, which found he died from a combination of a lung infection, aspirated stomach contexts in the small airways, and swelling in the stomach lining.