A much-loved young father died suddenly, leaving his pregnant partner and two young children devastated.
Lockie Seddon, 20, from regional Victoria, died on November 24 after contracting a Staphylococcus aureus infection that spread to his brain.
Seddon’s aunt, Danielle Sherer, told Daily Mail Australia it all happened very quickly.
“It started with a small cut on his lip and the GP said it was like a bite or something,” Mrs Sherer said.
The next morning, Mr Seddon and his partner Claire Hoogendoorn knew something was very wrong.
“Lockie woke up the next day, his eyes were very swollen and bulging, and he simply said to his partner, ‘I’m dying,'” Mrs Sherer said.
Mr Seddon was rushed to the local hospital and placed in an induced coma.
Unfortunately, the hospital was not equipped to provide the necessary care that the young father’s critical condition required.
Lockie Seddon (pictured) from regional Victoria died on November 24 after contracting a Staphylococcus aureus infection that spread to his brain.
‘Claire was simply the love of his life. We’ve been together for six years, and for such young people it’s pretty incredible. Mr Seddon and Mrs Hoogendoorn are pictured with their sons Mason (left) and Jax (right).
“Obviously being a small regional hospital they couldn’t meet all his needs and brought him straight to Melbourne,” Ms Sherer said.
Mr Seddon was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital and “never woke up”.
His sudden death has shaken the close-knit family.
‘He was healthy one day, right? He had a little thing on his lip and the next day that was it,” Mrs Sherer said.
Mr Seddon’s untimely death has left even medical experts shocked.
“The ICU specialist who was looking after Lockie said he had never seen a staph infection do this before,” Mrs Sherer said.
Mr Seddon’s wife wonders if she could have done anything to prevent his death.
“When we talked to the specialists, I said, ‘Is there any way to know?'” Ms. Sherer said.
“Claire was really worried because she had missed something and it was her fault.”
The response helped Hoogendoorn alleviate his feelings of guilt.
“They said there was no way for anyone to know and there was nothing anyone could do,” Mrs Sherer said.
“I guess it’s a little bittersweet for Claire to hear, but I think that’s also what makes it a lot harder for everyone to understand.”
Sherer revealed that Mr Seddon’s family, including Mrs Hoogendoorn, his sons Mason and Jax, his mother Tam, his father, his brother and his best friend Tyler, are understandably distraught and devastated by his sudden death.
Mr Seddon was the beloved father of two young children, Jax (left) and Mason (right).
‘They are just very stressed. Claire also has two young children that she is trying to help in this process.
Sherer said Hoogendoorn and Seddon were a perfect match.
‘Claire was simply the love of his life. We’ve been together for six years, and for such young people it’s pretty incredible.
Mr. Seddon’s death is even more tragic as Mrs. Hoogendoorn is pregnant with a girl who will never be able to know her father.
‘Claire finally has a baby girl on the way, she’s 15 weeks pregnant with her baby.’
He said Mr Seddon was “respectful, loyal and a real mummy’s boy”.
The poor mother received calls from him at least fifty times a day! she said.
Sherer said Seddon’s mother is devastated.
“No one ever expects to have to pay for or organize a funeral for their healthy 20-year-old child.”
Sherer said Seddon was “a real character” and “cheeky and quirky”.
“I have photos that make me laugh.”
“Every interaction I had with him, everyone asked me, ‘How would you describe him?’
“I’d just say, ‘a cheeky little shit!'” he said.
“Just the cheekiest smile and every conversation he had, he always had something clever to say.”
Mrs. Sherer has created a GoFundMe to pay for Mr Seddon’s funeral and the remaining funds will go towards the children’s future.
He said he wants to “give Lockie the funeral and send-off he deserves and hopefully raise funds to help his family.”
“And if we reach our goal and we have something left, basically what I’d like to do is put it into some kind of trust fund for your kids,” he said.
“Lockie leaves many broken hearts, but also incredible memories.”