Harrowing new details about how a young boy, 11, died from a snake bite
An 11-year-old boy who tragically died from a snake bite was assumed to be grog sick or concussed when he began slurring his words and vomiting.
An 11-year-old boy who tragically died from a snake bite was assumed to be grog sick or concussed when he began slurring his words and vomiting.
Tristian Frahm died at a Murgon property in Queenslands South Burnett region on November 21, 2021, hours after he told his dad a snake had bitten him.
The timeline leading up to Tristans tragic death has been revealed during a pre-inquest hearing at Brisbane coroners court on Monday.
Tristian and his father, Kerrod Frahm, were staying at a friends remote property on November 20 for a birthday celebration, news.com.au reported.
Counsel assisting the Coroner Sarah Ford told the court the father-son duo spent the afternoon and night with Mr Frahms friends, Rachelle Dorman and Jacob Bryant, and two other young boys.
The trio of boys were riding a mower when Tristian is believed to have fallen off, saying he had been bitten by a snake.
Mr Frahm reportedly told police he thought Tristian might have hit his head, saying he was a little dazed or concussed.
Mr Bryant recalls that Tristian was barely able to stand and was trying to half talk but was slurring his words, Ms Ford said.
Tristian Frahm, 11 (pictured), died at a remote property in Queenslands South Burnett region in November 2021, hours after he told his dad he had been bitten by a snake
Its clear that there was some talk of Tristian having been bitten by a snake, Ms Ford said, telling the court the adults reportedly checked Tristian for bite marks.
One boy is believed to have told the adults that Tristian had stolen some beers from his dads cooler, the court was told.
They reportedly assumed the 11-year-old was intoxicated, with Mr Frahm telling his son to go and sleep it off.
Between the accounts shared by Ms Ford with the coroners court, Tristian is believed to have vomited multiple times over the following hours and into the night.
The court heard that after one bout of vomiting, one of the other boys tried to wake Mr Frahm, who was asleep on a couch, but was unsuccessful.
Overnight, [the boys] observed Tristian to be in significant pain, Ms Ford said.
One boy reportedly alerted Ms Dorman to the 11-year-olds condition but she thought Tristian was just hungover from the beers he had stolen, the court heard.
Ms Dorman is believed to have seen Tristian sitting in the door of a donga, a form of temporary, demountable housing, later in the evening and he waved to her.
Tristians dad Kerrod Frahm reportedly told police that he thought Tristian may have hit his head, saying he was a little dazed or concussed (the father-son duo are pictured)
In Ms Dormans opinion, Tristian appeared to be perfectly fine, just grog sick, Ms Ford told the court.
The counsels assistant said Mr Frahm discovered his son lying face down outside the donga about 7am the following morning.
Unable to rouse Tristian, Mr Frahm realised he had passed away, she said.
Mr Frahm is said to have phoned his mother while driving into town who then called triple-zero at 8.56am.
Tristians lifeless body was found lying outside the donga by emergency services with five patches of vomit within 20metres of his body, Ms Ford said.
His cause of death was found to be brown snake envenomation and an autopsy found a puncture wound consistent with a snake bite on Tristians ankle.
On the coroners court website, the inquest is listed as aiming to promote awareness of the signs and symptoms of snake envenomation.
It will also highlight the first aid required for suspected snake bites and consider whether recommendations to prevent future deaths.
Tristians lifeless body was found outside the donga, a type of temporary housing, by emergency services with five patches of vomit close by, the court heard
Mr Frahm was not present at the Coroners Court on Monday but Tristians mum and grandmother attended.
His death has devastated his family who say they will remember him as a little hero and an angel.
Im so beyond lost for words and the heart break is unimaginable. Im still in disbelief, one relative posted at the time.
I love you more than I ever thought possible, Im missing you more and more every minute, therell be a you-sized hole in my heart forever.