Mum Makes Emotional Plea For People To Get Flu Shot After 10-Year-Old Son Died

As the flu grips all parts of Australia, people are being warned more than ever to get the jab to ensure they don't get sick or worse.

A Perth mum has gone through what no parent should endure after her 10-year-old son died from complications stemming from influenza.

Mataiapo Faithfull Puttz William Maku died on Sunday and his mum Tuaine is understandably devastated.

She's revealed that her young son wasn't vaccinated against the flu and now she's appealing to everyone else to get the injection.

"Take the shot. Get vaccinated. If you can save your kid's life - do it," she told reporters."They need to find a cure for this type of flu for other parents out there. It's heartbreaking to know there was nothing they could have done for my boy."

Tuaine says Mataiapo's sickness and eventual death came on suddenly and the family wasn't prepared.

"He was playing around he was doing all the normal things," she said. "Then he went to bed. He woke up and he was hot, he was sick.

"Everything just went so quick there. He wasn't responding to any of the medicine to help him breathe."

The 10-year-old already suffered from epilepsy and the flu started triggering more frequent seizures. His body didn't respond to the help once the seizures took hold.

The family then had to make the devastating decision to turn off his life support. Everyone from the Maku clan came to say their goodbyes and with the help of a bishop and priest, they pulled the plug.

Australia is currently dealing with one of the worst flu seasons in recent memory.

Nearly 140 people have died so far from influenza this year alone, with a further 58,000 people struck down by it.

In Victoria, three children aged three, six and 11 have died.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said: "We are seeing a lot of communicable diseases spread through overseas travel, that's certainly been the case in terms of measles cases and flu cases.

"We have seen a very significant summer flu season this year as a result of people coming back from the northern hemisphere with the flu and that spreading in the community."

Get vaccinated, it could save your or someone else's life.

Featured Image Credit: 7 News

Topics: News, Australia, Health

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie