Parents of Australia’s youngest Covid death unable to 'bury their boy'
The parents of a 15-year-old boy who died in a Sydney hospital while infected with Covid-19 were unable to attend his funeral after contracting the virus themselves.
Osama Subuh's parents have both contracted the highly-infectious Delta variant which has left them hospitalised, the Daily Telegraph reported.
On Monday they were unable to attend Osama's funeral after being infected by their son, a family source told the publication.
His parents were only able to say goodbye via FaceTime having made the decision to switch off his life support.
"They are absolutely distraught they were unable to bury their boy themselves," the source said.
"What’s happened is so sad, he was such a beautiful happy kid. They can’t believe he’s gone."
Osama was hospitalised with pneumococcal meningitis however family say contracting the virus deteriorated his condition.
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Sydney Children's Hospital said his death was ultimately a result of pneumococcal meningitis.
His family believe he contracted Covid-19 at KFC Punchbowl where he works part time and the location of a large outbreak in Sydney's west.
Osama remembered as 'gentle soul'
Tributes poured in for the teen in the wake of his death, with his school Kingsgrove North High describing him as a "gentle soul".
“Osama was also active in our school community, which made him well-liked and respected,” it said in a statement.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce told Channel Seven's Sunrise his death is a "tragedy".
Osama is the youngest person in Australia to die with coronavirus.
The Australian Medical Association's Danielle McMullen said Osama's death highlighted concerns around the transmission of Covid among young people.
She said it was evidence children need to get vaccinated and for those younger than 12, they must continue to practice social distancing.
NSW is yet to open the vaccine program to those under 16 years, meaning Osama was ineligible for the jab. He was up to date with his routine child vaccinations.
There have been 2400 cases of Covid-19 in people aged under 20 in NSW since July 1, with 1488 in the past fortnight.
With AAP
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