His father, Kerrod attributed his non-specific symptoms to drinking alcohol and send him to bed to "sleep it off" with the report stating that had he received medical attention sooner he "likely" would have survived.
An 11-year-boy in Australia died from a snakebite after his father sent him to bed to "sleep it off," thinking he'd drank some of their alcohol, an inquest has revealed.
On Nov. 21, 2021, Tristian James Frahm was discovered deceased at a property in Murgon, a rural town in the South Burnett Region of Queensland.
An autopsy revealed that Tristian "died from extensive internal bleeding due to brown snake envenomation," according to a Coroners Court of Queensland inquest document.
"Brown snake venom can cause a venom induced consumption coagulopathy (VICC) which can lead to profound anticoagulation meaning the blood cannot clot normally. Major haemorrhage is rare in snakebite, occurring only in 3% of brown snake envenomations," the document noted.
On Wednesday, Oct. 15, coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard concluded that three adults, including Tristian's father, Kerrod Frahm, had "received information that Tristian may have been bitten by a snake" after he'd fallen off a ride-on mower the day prior to his death, the inquest findings stated.
They "checked him for bite marks but in the absence of any obvious puncture marks, and on being told Tristian had earlier consumed alcohol, they attributed his non-specific symptoms to the effects of alcohol," the document said, adding that this was the reason they didn't seek medical attention earlier. They then sent him to bed to "sleep it off," per the document.
"Tristian's death may have been prevented had he received early medical attention," the findings stated, after explaining that Tristian's father, Kerrod, "was adamant" that his son had drunk three cans of alcohol, and that's why he was ill.
After Tristian was sent to bed and checked on through the night, he experienced symptoms including vomiting, a "pain in the belly" and feeling tired over the next 10 hours, the findings said.
No alcohol was detected in Tristian’s system the day after his death.
"It can never be known to what extent Tristian was affected by alcohol, if at all, at that time. Toxicology performed on postmortem samples (femoral and subclavian blood, urine, stomach contents and vitreous [humor]) received on 22 November 2021 detected no alcohol," the document stated.
Although Tristian "did not have any alcohol in his system when he passed, it is possible he could have entirely [metabolized] any alcohol consumed earlier," the document pointed out.
Emergency physician, Dr. Mark Little, told the inquest that "putting the possibility of snakebite to one side" he considered "the history of a fall from the ride-on mower, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain could all be consistent with either alcohol and/or head strike with a mild concussion."
Little could also "see how the adults may have interpreted the suggestion Tristian had consumed alcohol as an explanation for not only his symptoms but also how he came off the mower and potentially banged his head," the document added.
Associate Professor Katherine Isoardi noted that Tristian’s symptoms at that time “were non-specific and could have indicated an illness or something other than a snakebite,” per the findings.
After authorities arrived at the property on the morning of Tristian’s death, officers found “two marks on Tristian’s right ankle consistent with a snakebite,” the document said.
Tristian “would more likely than not have survived” if he had received medical attention earlier, as examinations would have likely identified the bite marks, and he could’ve been treated, according to the findings.
Tristian's father, Kerrod, was previously charged with and committed to stand trial for manslaughter following his son's death; however, the charge against him was discontinued on April 12, 2024.
"This tragedy shows how critical early medical treatment is in snakebite cases," coroner Kirkegaard said, according to 7News.
Queensland Courts didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.