"Worst nightmare": Teen dies one day after flu diagnosis
William Jones was complaining of a sore throat and cough last month and when his mum called the doctor, they were told that it was most likely the flu.
However, the following morning when Rebecca Rollason went to check on her 16-year-old son, he was found unresponsive in his bed in their Wellington home.
"We ask ourselves how what started as a sore throat, snotty nose and a cough on Tuesday to no longer with us three days later," the grieving mum told the NZ Herald.
"No one understands, we don't know what happened... it feels like the worst nightmare that we cannot wake from."
Rollason explained that her family have to "wait for results" in hopes of understanding what happened and how the teenager, who was barely sick, passed away so suddenly.
"We just don’t understand how this can happen to a boy who was barely ever sick and was very healthy," she said.
"It is an incredibly hard and devastating time for us."
A family friend has helped set up a fundraising page to help relieve the financial pressure on her and William's two brothers while they grieve.
"It is every parents worst nightmare and a shocking tragedy to lose a healthy child from a sudden and brief illness," a statement from the fundraising page read.
"The money will help the family with funeral costs and ease Financial burden while they grieve and come to terms with Williams passing."
On July 1 they shared an update on the fundraising page, saying: "Rebecca and family would like all to know that are incredibly grateful for all the support and kindness."
Image: Givealittle