Tristian Frahm: Inquest hears dad’s tragic request to snake bite victim

The heartbreaking moment a grandmother called triple-0 to report her grandson had been found dead after a fatal brown snake bite has been played at inquest into his death.

Tristian Frahm.

The father of an 11-year-old boy fatally bitten by a snake told him to “go lie down” after he mistakenly believed he had been drinking, a coroner’s inquest has heard.

The inquest into the death of Tristian Frahm, who died hours after he was bitten by an eastern brown snake near the South Burnett town of Murgon in 2021, opened at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday.

The inquest in its opening day heard that in the hours before his death, witnesses said Tristian complained of having a sore stomach and repeatedly vomited following the snake bite, which occurred after he fell off a ride-on mower.

The next morning, Tristian was found outside a temporary dwelling he had been sleeping in, surrounded by patches of vomit.

Emergency services were not called for about an hour or so, the court heard.

Tristian Frahm would have turned 15 in February 2025.

The lead investigator into Tristian’s death, Detective Senior Constable Benjamin Van Der Lugt, told the court there was no phone reception at the property but it could be obtained at the end of the driveway.

Tristian’s father Kerrod Frahm was initially charged with manslaughter for failing to seek medical assistance for his son, but the charges were later discontinued.

Mr Frahm was the second witness to be called by the inquest, where he told the court he didn’t know his son had been bitten by a snake until after his death, despite telling police otherwise.

Mr Frahm said he was told his son had been sneaking Wild Turkey cans from an Esky, and he believed he was sick from the alcohol.

A friend, Jacob Bryant, was at the gathering and told the court after Tristian fell off the ride-on mower, it was said that Tristian may have been bitten by a snake.

Mr Bryant said he, another witness, and Mr Frahm searched Tristian for signs of a snake bite, but said they did not find any signs of a bite, and it was said Tristian was joking about being bitten.

He said “in an instant”, it went from being a snake bite to Tristian just being drunk.

Mr Bryant said the boy’s father then told Tristian “if you’ve been sneaking my beers then go lie down you d--khead.”

Kerrod James Frahm was cleared of manslaughter charges – a Queensland Police Service spokesperson said the decision to drop the charge was not made by police.

Mr Frahm said he checked on, and cleaned vomit off his son throughout the evening, before finding Tristian dead the next morning.

The inquest heard he last checked on him before he went to bed sometime between 9pm and midnight.

He said the following morning he didn’t try to call emergency services and asked his guests to get his mother, because he was “in a bit of a state” and expected someone else to make the call once they left the property.

The court heard Mr Frahm was alone with Tristian at the property for at least 30 minutes before he left the property to get help, because he didn’t know what was going on.

Mr Frahm called his mother at 8.51am, which lasted 75 seconds, and she then called triple-0 at 8.55am.

Police were told Tristian was found unresponsive at about 7am, however Mr Frahm said it was between 7.30am to 8am.

Haunting call hours after Tristan found

The inquest heard the triple-0 call Mr Frahm’s mother, Sharon Frahm, made after meeting her son following Tristian’s death.

“We just got out of bed and gone in to wake to the grandson up and he’s dead,” she said.

Mr Frahm could be heard dry-retching and crying in the background.

“We don’t know what’s happened, he’s just stiff and cold,” she said.

Tristian James Frahm’s mother, leaving the Toowoomba courthouse on, Monday, June 2, 2025.

The responder asked if the 11-year-old boy was definitely not breathing.

“Stiff and cold, he’s dead, he’s dead,” she said.

When questioned if she was at the property, she said her son called her in hysterics.

Ms Frahm said she made the call because her son was too hysterical to speak, and he told her he didn’t know what he was supposed to do.

“He couldn’t talk to me love, let alone call triple-0,” she said.

Heartbreaking family statement

The inquest began with a family statement from Tristian’s maternal grandmother Samantha Skerritt, who said Tristian was “wise and kind beyond his years, with a heart so big he touched everyone around him”.

As Ms Skerritt spoke of his “gentle spirit and old soul”, she stood next to a photograph of her grandson at a beach holding a small crustaceans in his fingers.

Samantha Skerritt outside the coronial inquest into the death of her grandson, Tristian James Frahm, who died after a brown snake bite on a South Burnett property in 2021, on Monday, June 2, 2025.

She said the doting big brother was an animal whisperer, talented artist, and master chef.

“He showed a remarkable love for the earth, often found exploring crystals, flowers, shells, and the tiniest of creatures,” she said.

“Tristian’s connection to his Aboriginal roots was shown through his love for dancing, his spirituality and his natural rhythm for the world around him.

“His crystal blue eyes lit up every smile.

“Whether he was cooking up a storm in the kitchen, striking a pose, or cracking everyone up with his endless funny moments – Tristian made every moment lighter.

“He was our light, our joy, our everything, and the love he gave will forever take home in our hearts.”

The inquest run by Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard is looking into the events that occurred before and after Tristian was fatally bitten by a snake, and aims to raise public awareness about the signs and symptoms of bites.

Once it has concluded, there will also be recommendations made as to what could prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future.

The inquest continues.