Melbourne teen drowns in Bali tragedy weeks after mum dies
A Melbourne teenager has drowned while holidaying in Bali with friends, just weeks after her mother died from cancer.
Tributes are flooding in for 19-year-old Kristen Mace, a former student of Firbank Girls’ Grammar School in Brighton, who her friends say died in an “unfortunate accident”.
The teen, who reportedly had a history of epilepsy, suffered a seizure while walking alone and fell into a pool on Sunday morning, The Age reported. She is being remembered as “loyal and caring friend, sister and daughter”.
Her friends found her body just days before she would have celebrated her 20th birthday on Wednesday.
Ms Mace’s death comes just three weeks after her mother Jodi died of cancer. The family held the woman’s funeral in Brighton less than a fortnight ago, according to news.com.au.
A GoFundMe fundraising page has been set up by a friend towards the costs of bringing Ms Mace’s body back home to Australia, as her travel insurance did not cover this, according to the page.
The page has almost raised its $50,000 goal in less than 24 hours.
“The impact on the Mace family no doubt is indescribable,” the crowdfunding page organiser, Harrison Pirrie, wrote.
“Kristen was an amazing girl and will be dearly missed by all. As discussed the circumstances over the past three weeks for the Mace family are beyond tragic. We need to band together and donate generously so we can help bring Kristen home.”
One friend wrote: “Kristen, you held a special place in so many people’s hearts and didn’t even know it.
“Your beautiful, kindhearted personality and contagious laugh and smile will be so dearly missed. Everything about you was truly special. You were honestly one in a million. Love you always,” she said.
Another friend said the teen would be missed by many.
“You left a smile on everyone’s face where ever you went. You were a loyal and caring friend, sister and daughter.
“Heaven is lucky to have gained such a shinning star, you’ll be glowing right next to your mum.”
Firbank Grammar School has also paid tribute to the 2016 graduate, sending their condolences to the Mace family.
A DFAT spokeswoman confirmed to Yahoo7 assistance was being provided to the family.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Bali, Indonesia, in accordance with the Consular Services Charter. For privacy reasons we are unable to provide further details,” it said in a statement.
Travel insurance in the event of death overseas
In cases of death overseas, consular assistance may include support and guidance to families and liaison with local and Australian authorities to assist with funeral arrangements or repatriation of remains, DFAT said.
“Insurance companies will generally provide advice on, and take care of, most of the arrangements and costs associated with a local funeral or the return of the deceased to Australia,” the department added in an online statement.
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“Unfortunately, many Australians travel overseas without adequate insurance cover.”
If an Australian dies overseas and is not covered by travel insurance, the tragedy can significantly add to the stress on the family, left with the responsibility of making funeral arrangements and meeting the costs involved, such as returning the body home.
“We strongly recommend that all Australians travelling overseas take out travel insurance to cover the costs of hospitalisation and medical treatment should they become ill overseas, as well as costs incurred as a result of death,” DFAT urged.
