16-year-old boy dies just days after developing sore throat and cough
The family of the New Zealand teen say they 'just don’t understand'
Callum Jones
A seemingly healthy 16-year-old boy has died just three days after coming down with mild symptoms.
You often think symptoms such as a sore throat and a cough are nothing to worry about, just a common cold as everyone says.
William Jones, from Wellington, New Zealand developed a sore throat and thought nothing of it, like most people would.
However, when that was paired with a persistent cough, his worried mom, Rebecca Rollason, decided to ring the doctors.
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The parent was initially told to give her son 'plenty of fluids' before ringing the next day if his symptoms got worse.
Tragically, William did not make it through the night.
Rebecca went on to check on her son in the morning but discovered him unresponsive in bed.
The devastated mother has told her story to the New Zealand Herald, with Rebecca describing her loss as a 'nightmare'.
"As you can imagine we just don’t understand and cannot believe he is gone," she told the outlet.
"It feels like the worst nightmare that we cannot wake from."
William's sore throat began on the June 11, and his mom called the doctors two days later on June 13.
Tragically, William died the next day.
"We just don’t understand how this can happen to a boy who was barely ever sick and was very healthy," Rebecca continued.
"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.
"No one understands, we don’t know what happened. We have to wait for results."
William's death has sent shockwaves through his community, particularly because of his young age.
"William was an amazing, talented and very bright kind boy who we love so very much," Rebecca continued.
"He was a talented musician and had his future all planned out.
"It is an incredibly hard and devastating time for us."
A close family friend has set up a GiveALittle page in order to help the family during this very difficult time.
"I have set up this page to help Rebecca and her 2 remaining sons with funeral costs and to alleviate financial burden during this grieving period. It is every parent's worst nightmare and a shocking tragedy to lose a healthy child from a sudden and brief illness," a description to the fundraiser said.
An investigation into the teenager's death is underway.