A 14-year-old boy’s devastated family is in shock and mourning after the young teenager died suddenly in his sleep while staying with his grandparents.
Australian teen William Pfeiffer has no apparent health issues and was described as “fit and healthy” by those who knew him.
However, when William went for a sleepover at the home of his grandparents on Sunday night, he never woke up, Adelaide’s The Advertiser reported.
William Pfeiffer was a “happy and healthy” 14-year-old boy when he went to sleep at his grandparents’ house last Sunday night. But the teenager from Queenstown didn’t wake up the next day. He died in his sleep. Read more: https://t.co/XFiw4Dfj9F #TheAdvertiser pic.twitter.com/VMXNfdGRcC
— The Advertiser (@theTiser) August 23, 2023
The Queenstown native died in his sleep and authorities do not yet have any answers for what might have caused his sudden death.
A family friend said he was looking forward to his school’s upcoming book week.
Pfeiffer’s parents Karen Lynch and Mike Shaw are reportedly struggling as they come to grips with the teen’s death.
The family is still awaiting a report from a coroner to shed some light on how the boy could pass away so unexpectedly.
Nicole Banns, a friend of the family, described to the Advertiser how William’s death was discovered.
“I think they just [realized] that he was sleeping in bed and they checked on him and [realized] that something wasn’t right,” Banns said.
Banns added, “[The family] is devastated as you can imagine, it’s just traumatic and it’s just so unfair.”
The woman, who described William as perfectly “healthy” also said he was “just like a sunshine” to those who knew him.
“He was such a happy kid whose smile just beamed and he was a bit of a clown and a jokester, and he used to make everybody laugh,” Banns said.
“He had a heart of gold, so likable and he was such a good kid as well.
“Like he would never do anything wrong. He was just so good.”
Banns has launched a GoFundMe campaign in order to help the teen’s family cover his final expenses and support them financially while William’s death is grieved.
“On Sunday 20th August 2023 we received the devastating news that their son William unexpectedly passed away in his sleep at just 14 years of age,” the campaign said.
“No parent should ever have to endure the loss of a child.
“The grief alone is terrible, but the added stress of financial strain just adds to the pain.
“Karen will be unable to work for a while as she deals with her grief.”
Banns said all the money that is raised will go to William’s parents.
As of Thursday morning, the campaign had raised just over $48,000 of its $50,000 goal.
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