An 18-year-old tragically passed away after a freak accident occurred while he was out celebrating with his loved ones.
Sonny Blundell, 18, originally from New South Wales, had recently relocated to an apartment in Queensland after securing a job in concreting, marking what his family described as “his greatest accomplishment.”
“Moving to Queensland only a month ago, which was his greatest accomplishment, he worked the hardest concreting and making himself known,” Sonny’s older sister, Izabella Cromack-Hay, told The Daily Telegraph.
On June 23, Sonny was celebrating his fresh start with his best friend, Mitchell Bullard, when he attempted a backflip in the lounge room of his new apartment.
He hit his head during the attempt, leaving him with a headache.
“[He] woke up, went to the toilet vomiting and then passed out. That’s when his best friend found him unresponsive in the morning,” Cromack-Hay told The Daily Telegraph.
Sonny was found unresponsive by his roommate on June 24 and was rushed to Queensland Hospital Intensive Care Unit, where he slipped into a coma while “battling a brain injury.”
“The first 24hrs was the most critical which we nearly lost him after having multiple strokes and another bleed which lead (sic) to him needing a drain in his brain,” Cromack-Hay shared on a GoFundMe page set up to help with Sonny’s medical bills and rehab.
“There is major uncertainty that Sonny will or will not pull through. He’s working his hardest as there could be recovery and rehabilitation.”
Sadly, Sonny passed away from his injuries on June 30, just one week after the accident.
“Our beautiful Sonny has grown his wings and passed away,” Cromack-Hay confirmed in a heartbreaking update on the GoFundMe page. “We are all in disbelief and major pain.”
She continued: “I ask everyone to still support our family as we need to bring Sonny home as his sisters are waiting for him. We are all here in Queensland trying our hardest to organize this horrible time and prepare ourselves.”
His mother, Madeline Blundell, shared her grief on Facebook, writing: “I’ll bring you home my boy, my love, my soul and my heart. My best friend and my shoulder to laugh with and cry. I miss you so much my baby.. ma is here.”
Funds raised from the GoFundMe, which has garnered nearly $16,000, will be used to bring Sonny’s body back to New South Wales and cover funeral expenses.
“Please ask to donate for Sonny’s Mum, his sisters, family and Sonny’s funeral. Rest In Peace our Beautiful boy,” Cromack-Hay added.
Now, as the family prepares to bring Sonny home, they are leaning on the support of their community during an unimaginable loss.
“We need to bring Sonny home as his sisters are waiting for him,” Cromack-Hay wrote in a GoFundMe update. “We are all here in Queensland trying our hardest to organize this horrible time and prepare ourselves.”