A 28-year-old man has died just three days short of his 29th birthday after a bacterial infection left 72 holes in his lungs.
Dylan Watts from Broulee, south of Bateman’s Bay in New South Wales, sadly died from the bacterial infection on March 22.
Doctors had initially told Mr Watts and his family that he was unlikely to make it to 30 due to the severity of the bacteria in his lungs.
His family said while Dylan had been unwell, his early death still came as a shock.
Dylan’s younger sister, Caitlyn, told Daily Mail Australia the family was still waiting to learn how the illness could have progressed so quickly.
‘I found out in July of last year how severe things had begun to get, that he had holes in his lungs and had been in hospital for three weeks after coughing up blood.
‘His doctor told him if he hadn’t got in so soon that could have killed him.’
In 2021, a scan identified two holes in Mr Watts’ lungs. Over the following year, his health began to deteriorate.
NSW South Coast man Dylan Watts, 28, succumbed to a bacterial infection
Doctors believed the infection would claim Dylan’s life before he turned 30
‘He had reflux, was very lethargic, coping with mental health issues and his persistent cough was (not fixed) with over-the-counter medication,’ Ms Watts said.
Dylan began receiving specialist treatment in early 2024 when he was hospitalised for three weeks following a lung haemorrhage.
By mid-2024, the number of holes in his lungs had grown to 72.
At this point, Caitlyn said that Dylan was on enough medication and antibiotics that it ‘filled an entire backpack’.
‘He was severely unwell yet fighting for his health and optimistic about some kind of recovery,’ she said.
Just two weeks ago, Dylan’s mother, Suzanne, picked up her son and his puppy, named ‘Polar’ from Goulburn and began making arrangements for his long-term care.
Five days later, her son died.
Caitlyn said her brother had an ‘intelligent curious nature’ and ‘stood up for what he believed in, for his family and friends and for anyone he felt didn’t have the voice to do so for themselves’.
‘I always looked up to him, he was my big brother so how could I not?
‘He was always there to protect and guide me, and pull me up when I was making bad decisions as he’d learned from his own experiences and shared those lessons with me.’
Dylan was on enough medication and antibiotics that it ‘filled an entire backpack’, his sister said
The siblings grew closer as they became older, and bonded over a shared passion for music and tattoos.
‘The last thing my mum and I were supposed to do with him was get a tattoo done by him as he had learned and practiced on himself for the last few years, and was getting quite good,’ Caitlyn said.
‘His spirit is walking alongside my mum and I, we are his voice now and boy did he always have questions.’
A GoFundMe launched to help the family in meeting funeral costs has received 46 donations, raising $3,380 towards a $6,000 target.
‘Let this be a reminder that those you love can be gone in an instant,’ Caitlyn wrote on the fundraiser page.
‘So, hold them close today and tell them you love them. There is a fragility in all of us.
‘His memory and his story will be remembered by many who loved him and he will be forever missed.’
His family said Dylan’s death still came as a shock despite his doctor’s warnings
Family friend Cheyenne O’Brien said Dylan’s death was no less shocking despite the repeated warnings from his doctors.
‘Although Dylan had been unwell, this has, of course, come as a shock to his loved ones who are now having to deal with not only their grief, but the stress of having to organise his farewell,’ she said.
‘To help Dylan’s family be able to celebrate his life and have the send-off that he deserves please donate if you can and share.
‘Thank you from Dylan’s family’.