Sonny Blundell had recently moved from New South Wales to Queensland. Just a month before the incident, he’d settled into a new apartment after landing a job in concreting.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Sonny’s older sister Izabella Cromack-Hay shared that he relocated to the suburb of Southport with hopes of building a fresh life alongside 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.”
The next morning, his roommate discovered Sonny unresponsive in the apartment. He was immediately rushed to Queensland Hospital’s ICU, where doctors placed him in a coma as he fought off a serious brain injury.
Cromack-Hay explained that Sonny had hit his head the night before in the living room. At the time, he seemed to only have a headache from the fall.
Once he was admitted to the hospital, Sonny experienced multiple strokes and a severe brain bleed. According to a GoFundMe page set up by Cromack-Hay, doctors had to insert a drain to relieve pressure in his brain.
“We are all in disbelief and major pain.” she wrote in the emotional update. “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.”
All money raised through the fundraiser will go toward covering Sonny’s funeral expenses and the cost of bringing his body back home to his family in New South Wales.
The dangers of head trauma
Head injuries can lead to serious consequences, especially when they involve a sudden jolt or a forceful blow that affects the brain.
As explained by the Mayo Clinic, a mild traumatic brain injury may only affect brain cells for a short time. However, more severe trauma can cause bruising, bleeding, or lasting physical damage that might lead to serious complications or even death.
Here are some of the symptoms to watch for if someone has suffered a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury:
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- Loss of consciousness that lasts from several minutes up to hours
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- A headache that won’t go away or keeps getting worse
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- Repeated episodes of vomiting or feeling nauseous
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- Seizures or convulsions
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- One or both pupils becoming noticeably larger
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- Clear liquid coming from the nose or ears
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- Trouble waking up or staying awake
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- Weakness or tingling sensations in the fingers or toes
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- Sudden loss of coordination or balance
If you or someone else has taken a blow to the head and notices any strange symptoms or changes in behavior, it’s really important to see a doctor right away.
You can support Sonny’s family by donating to their fundraiser using the link provided here.