A Queensland family is expected to face a torturous months-long wait for answers over the unexplained death of their son at a Brisbane rehabilitation facility.
Kyle Gallagher, 22, died while in care at Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) in July.
The roofer had been in and out of hospital, having suffered a brain injury in a serious motorbike crash the previous month.
In his final hours, Gallagher sent heartwrenching messages pleading for help.
In one text, he told his father: “I need something to help me breathe. They’re not giving me anything and I won’t make it longer.”
On July 14, his mother Christina Dargusch woke to a missed call from Kyle and it was not long before she learned her boy was dead.
The texts and calls were his final attempt to contact loved ones who told 7NEWS “he knew he was dying”.
It was a devastating and unexpected blow, with Gallagher’s family anticipating their boy would make a full recovery from the bike crash which left him with broken bones and post-traumatic amnesia.
“Kyle didn’t understand that he’d had an accident,” stepmother Tegan Samorowski said.
“Sometimes he’d move, feel pain and ask ‘Dad why am I so sore?’”
Gallagher, who would have turned 23 next week, had previously walked out of the hospital but was forced to return to the emergency department the next day.
His family invoked Ryan’s Rule, wanting control of his medical decisions, but loved ones say they were told by authorities he was sound of mind.
His family says there are many unanswered questions and are still unsure if anyone checked on Gallagher during his final night.
The coroner is now investigating exactly what went wrong.
STARS said in a statement they are offering the family support but would not comment further given a coronial investigation is underway.
The Health Ombudsman is also looking into his treatment.
The report could take up to three months, while the coroner’s findings will take even longer.
