- Teenager killed and sister seriously injured while traveling to see Taylor Swift
- Swifties pay tribute to Mieka Pokarier
- READ MORE: Swiftie Mieka Pokarier’s final days revealed before she died in crash in Dubbo, New South Wales
Fans attending one of Taylor Swift’s shows in Sydney are encouraged to wear special friendship bracelets in honor of a fellow Swiftie who died on the way to her concert in Melbourne.
Mieka Pokarier, 16, died when the SUV she was traveling in with her mother and sister collided with a semi-trailer near Dubbo, central western New South Wales, about 6pm on Thursday.
The family had been driving to Melbourne from the Gold Coast on the “trip of a lifetime” to see Swift perform the Australian leg of her Eras tour.
Mieka’s younger sister Freya, 10, was seriously injured in the crash on Dunedoo Road in Ballimore.
She was airlifted to Westmead Hospital, where she remains in a coma with brain injuries, a damaged pelvis and a broken leg.
Mieka (pictured right) and Freya were on the trip of a lifetime to see Taylor Swift perform on the Australian leg of her Eras tour when Mieka was murdered.
Taylor Swift is pictured performing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 16, 2024. She is due to perform a series of shows in Sydney this week.
Her mother, Kim Litchfield, was also injured and taken to Dubbo Hospital, and has since traveled to Sydney to be at her youngest daughter’s bedside. Her husband and another of Mieka’s brothers are currently keeping vigil.
Swift fans, known as Swifties, exchange self-made bracelets during concerts. You are encouraged to make and share them in honor of Mieka, with her name on them.
In a post made to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour Facebook page, a fan asked Swifties to wear a friendship bracelet with Mieka’s name on it.
‘To honor them, the family asks everyone to wear a friendship bracelet with her name on it so it’s like she’s still there. Mieka is her name.
“I will also hand out bracelets with his name in his honor.”
On Monday the children’s godmother, Karleigh Fox, who organized a GoFundMe appeal, said Freya remains in a critical but stable condition.
Taylor Swift fans are urged to wear friendship bracelets with the word ‘Mieka’ at one of her shows in Sydney.
Fans are encouraged to wear and share friendship bracelets in honor of Mieka.
Mieka had been a fan of the global pop star for more than 10 years
“Yes, he had brain surgery and has multiple injuries.” she wrote in a social media post.
“Yes, there are multiple surgeries and many therapies ahead of us on this long road.”
‘Yes, there is the possibility of this being life-threatening, BUT there is also the possibility of miracles and recovery!’
Both sisters were enrolled at the Gold Coast Youth Theater Academy.
Fox paid tribute to Mieka, describing her as “smart and creative” whose life ended too soon.
“She has been a Taylor Swift fan for over 10 years and loved math, loved ceramics, was always making things with ceramics and taking classes,” she wrote.
New South Wales Police said in a statement that the accident is under investigation.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.