An inquest has determined that the death of an 11-year-old boy in Queensland from a snakebite could have been prevented with timely medical intervention. Tristian James Frahm died on November 21, 2021, at a property near Murgon, located three hours north of Brisbane.

Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard reported that Tristian succumbed to a rare complication from a brown snake envenomation. She noted that the major hemorrhage that led to his death occurs in only three percent of such cases. At the time of his death, Tristian was under the care of his father, Kerrod Frahm, who did not seek medical help for his son.

Initially, Mr. Frahm faced manslaughter charges for failing to provide adequate care, but the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charges in April 2024. During the inquest at the Toowoomba Coroners Court, it was revealed that Tristian began showing symptoms after falling off a ride-on mower on the afternoon of November 20, 2021.

Although he was checked for snake bites, no visible signs were found. Mr. Frahm believed Tristian's complaints of abdominal pain were due to him sneaking alcohol from a cooler on the property. However, forensic pathologist Dr. Christopher Day, who conducted the autopsy, confirmed there were no traces of alcohol in Tristian's blood. Instead, Tristian was advised to lie down and rest, but he spent the next several hours vomiting and experiencing significant pain. His father found him face down in the yard the following morning, and he had died sometime that day.

In her findings, Coroner Kirkegaard emphasized the need for increased public awareness regarding snakebite symptoms and treatment. Dr. Mark Little, an emergency physician and toxicologist, testified that a study in Darwin indicated only about 20 percent of snakebite victims received appropriate first aid before reaching the hospital. He stressed the importance of improving public knowledge about the correct first aid response to snakebites.

Kirkegaard acknowledged that while information about snakebite management is available, it may not be widely understood. She also noted that the non-specific nature of Tristian's early symptoms made it understandable for adults to overlook the possibility of a snakebite.

The coroner did not make any referrals to the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding the actions of the adults present, stating that it is only with hindsight that their inaction can be viewed as inadequate. She concluded her findings by urging the public to take any potential snakebite seriously, advising immediate contact with emergency services, the application of a pressure bandage, and keeping the affected person still, regardless of visible symptoms or bite marks.

Kirkegaard remarked, "Let this be Tristian's legacy," highlighting the critical need for better education on snakebite awareness and response.