Dad Tells 11-Year-Old Son To ‘Sleep It Off’ After Saying He Felt Unwell, Ends In Tragedy
An Australian coroner has determined that 11-year-old Tristian Frahm would almost certainly be alive today if he had been taken to a hospital the night he fell ill. The boy’s death, which occurred during a family gathering in 2021, has now been traced to a venomous snake bite that went unnoticed until it was too late.
On the evening of November 20, 2021, Tristian was attending a birthday celebration when he fell from a ride-on mower. In the hours that followed, he became nauseous, vomited, and complained of severe stomach pain. Those around him — including his father, Kerrod Frahm — believed he had secretly consumed alcohol. Assuming he was simply intoxicated, the adults encouraged him to rest and “sleep it off.”
As the night progressed, the child’s condition worsened. His brother reportedly became alarmed by his declining state, but the adults either remained asleep or continued to believe his symptoms were alcohol-related. By morning, the boy was found unresponsive outside the property.
Tragically, investigators later discovered that the child’s death had nothing to do with alcohol. Instead, forensic experts identified faint marks on Tristian’s ankle — signs of a brown snake bite, one of the deadliest types of venomous bites in Australia. The discovery shocked the community, as the subtle appearance of the wound had led everyone to overlook the true cause of his illness.
Eastern brown snakes, common across much of Australia, are responsible for most snakebite fatalities in the country. Yet, their bites can be deceivingly mild in appearance, often resembling small scratches rather than the classic puncture marks people expect.
The night that began as a family celebration ended in tragedy, and the incident has since become a painful reminder of how quickly misjudgment can turn fatal.