An inquest has found the death of an 11-year-old Queensland boy from a snakebite may have been prevented had he received early medical attention.<\/p>\n
Tristian James Frahm died at a property near Murgon, three hours’ drive north of Brisbane, on November 21, 2021.<\/p>\n
Rare complication<\/p>\n
In handing down her findings, Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard found Tristian died from a rare complication of brown snake envenomation and did not receive medical attention while in the care of his father, Kerrod Frahm.<\/p>\n
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The coroner concluded that Tristian’s death may have been prevented if he received timely treatment. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
Ms Kirkegaard noted that the major haemorrhage that ultimately killed Tristian occurs in only 3 per cent of brown snake envenomations.<\/p>\n
Police originally charged Mr Frahm with manslaughter for failing to uphold his duty of care to his son<\/a>, but the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charge in April 2024.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the inquest at the Toowoomba Coroners Court heard Tristian began exhibiting general symptoms after being found in a paddock, having fallen off a ride-on mower<\/a> on the afternoon of November 20, 2021.<\/p>\n Checked for snake bites<\/p>\n The court heard the 11-year-old was checked for snake bites, but there were no obvious signs.<\/p>\n Mr Frahm attributed Tristian’s complaints of “pain in the belly” to a belief that he had “snuck” three cans of bourbon from an esky on the property.<\/p>\n Forensic pathologist Dr Christopher Day, who performed Tristian’s autopsy, told the court there were no signs of alcohol in his blood.<\/p>\n Tristian was told to lie down and “sleep it off” and spent the next few hours vomiting and at times exhibiting “significant pain”.<\/p>\n He was found lying face down in the yard the next morning by his father.<\/p>\n Tristian had died sometime on the morning of November 21, 2021.<\/p>\n Tristian Frahm died after unknowingly being bitten by a snake. (Supplied)<\/p>\n More awareness needed<\/p>\n In her findings, Ms Kirkegaard said Tristian’s death demonstrated the importance of promoting and reinforcing public awareness of the appearance and treatment of snakebites<\/a>.<\/p>\n In his evidence at the inquest, Cairns Hospital emergency physician and toxicologist Mark Little referenced a study undertaken in Darwin, which found only about 20 per cent of people bitten by snakes had received appropriate first aid prior to hospital treatment.<\/p>\n Dr Little said there was a need to improve public understanding of the correct first aid response to snakebite.<\/p>\n The coroner stated that while there may be a reasonable saturation of information available to the public about snakebite management, it does not necessarily follow that it is widely known.<\/p>\n Understandable inaction<\/p>\n Ms Kirkegaard noted that it was important to consider the evidence prospectively, and that given the non-specific nature of Tristian’s early symptoms it was understandable why the adults discounted and did not reassess the possibility of snakebite.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n