Teen dies after doing backflip to celebrate starting 'new life' with girlfriend
A teenager tragically died after doing a backflip to celebrate moving away from home to start a "new life" with his girlfriend.
Sonny Blundell had just moved from the Central Coast in New South Wales to the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, when the incident happened on June 24. According to Australian media, he was found "unresponsive" by his housemate in the living room of their flat. The 18-year-old was taken to Queensland Hospital and placed into a coma in the ICU before undergoing brain surgery. A GoFundMe page created by Sonny's family said the first 24 hours in hospital were the most critical for him as he suffered "multiple strokes" and a bleed which meant he needed a drain in his brain.
READ MORE: Mum's 'world fell apart' after teen daughter dies in horror car crash at hands of speeding boyfriend
But sadly, in an update posted on June 30, his sister Izabella Cromack-hay confirmed Sonny had passed away. She said the family is "in disbelief and major pain" and added they will use the GoFundMe donations to bring his body back home.
Izabella wrote: "Our beautiful Sonny has grown his wings and passed away 30/03/2007-30/6/2025. We are all in disbelief and major pain. I ask everyone to still support our family as we need to bring Sonny home as his sisters are waiting for him.
"We are all here in Queensland trying our hardest to organize this horrible time and prepare ourselves. Please ask to donate for Sonny's Mum, his sisters, family and Sonny's funeral. Rest In Peace our Beautiful boy."
According to Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Izabella said Sonny had recently moved away from home "to start a new life with his girlfriend." She said: "Moving to Queensland only a month ago, which was his greatest accomplishment, he worked the hardest concreting and making himself known."
Izabella said her younger brother had FaceTimed her on the day of the incident, and he was celebrating moving to Southport beach with his best friend Mitchell Bullard when he did the backflip. She said Sonny hit his head on the ground and went to bed with a headache.
But when he woke up, he went to the toilet vomiting and then passed out, Izabella said, which is when his best friend found him unresponsive in the morning. He was then taken to hospital where he sadly passed away on Monday.
The GoFundMe page has so far raised $22,140 AUD (£10,680). It has a target of $28,000 AUD (£13,510). You can donate to the fundraiser here.
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