Teen celebrates 'new life' with a backflip and dies six days later

A teenager who celebrated leaving home has tragically died after doing a backflip to celebrate his "new life." Sonny Blundell had just embarked on a new chapter with his girlfriend on the Gold Coast in Australia when he performed a celebratory backflip on June 24, which had dire consequences.

Discovered "unresponsive" by his housemate, 18-year-old Sonny was rushed to Queensland Hospital and placed into a medically induced coma in the ICU post brain surgery.

A GoFundMe set up by Sonny's family revealed that on the day he was hospitalised, he had suffered "multiple strokes" and developed a brain bleed that required a surgical drain.

Despite hopes for recovery, an anguished update by his sister Izabella Cromack-hay on June 30 confirmed that Sonny had died after the accident. She expressed her family's "disbelief and major pain", while pledging that the collected funds would be dedicated to bringing his body back home.

Izabella shared in her update: "Our beautiful Sonny has grown his wings and passed away 30/03/2007-30/6/2025. We are all in disbelief and major pain. I ask everyone to still support our family as we need to bring Sonny home as his sisters are waiting for him."

Grieving and grappling to manage the sudden loss, the family appealed for continued support to assist with Sonny's funeral arrangements. She urged people to contribute: "We are all here in Queensland trying our hardest to organize this horrible time and prepare ourselves. Please ask to donate for Sonny's Mum, his sisters, family and Sonny's funeral. Rest In Peace our Beautiful boy."

The Daily Telegraph reports that Izabella revealed her brother Sonny had recently left home "to start a new life with his girlfriend."

She said: "Moving to Queensland only a month ago, which was his greatest accomplishment, he worked the hardest concreting and making himself known."

Izabella recounted how her younger brother FaceTimed her on the day of the tragedy, jubilant about relocating to Southport beach with his mate Mitchell Bullard, where he attempted the fatal backflip, reports the Mirror.

She detailed that Sonny struck his head, retired with a headache, but upon waking, suffered vomiting and lost consciousness, leading to his friend discovering him unresponsive the next morning.

Tragically, Sonny was pronounced dead at the hospital on Monday.

A GoFundMe campaign in memory of Sonny has amassed $22,140 AUD (£10,680) towards a goal of $28,000 AUD (£13,510). Contributions to the fundraiser can be made here.