'Immensely kind, helpful, and much-loved': School mourns as girl dies after hospital discharge
A Queenstown primary school has paid tribute to a young girl who died just hours after being discharged from hospital.
Maite Eulogio, a 7-year-old “happy, healthy little girl”, died just hours after being discharged from a Queenstown hospital after falling ill last week.
An internal review is now being conducted by the hospital.
Shotover Primary School, where Maite was a student, said the school community was “collectively grieving the passing of an immensely kind, helpful, and much-loved child”.
“Our school community is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students,” acting principal Brendon Martyn said in a statement.
“We are collectively grieving the passing of an immensely kind, helpful, and much-loved child whose warmth touched the lives of many at our school.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences remain with the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.
“As a community, we remain dedicated to providing support to everyone affected.”
Health bosses have vowed to investigate what led to Maite’s death just hours after being discharged from Lakes District Hospital.
Jennifer Eulogio and her young family, originally from Chile, were living and working in Queenstown when her daughter, Maite, fell ill last week.
“When she first became unwell, we took her to the emergency department at Lakes District Hospital, where she was assessed and discharged home,” reads a Givealittle page set up to help with funeral expenses and to take Maite home to Chile.
“Just a few hours later, her condition worsened, and we rushed back to the emergency department.
“Tragically, she passed away shortly after our arrival.”
After questions from the Herald, Dr David Gow, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora chief medical officer for Southern and Te Waipounamu, said an internal review will be launched.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to this family for their loss and recognise the profound and long-lasting impact the death of their young daughter will have on her loved ones,“ Gow said.
“We note that this case is with the coroner, and as such we are unable to comment further, but we will be looking into what happened and conducting an internal review.
“This is a tragic situation that will have an effect on everyone involved.”
Maite was a “happy, healthy little girl with no underlying medical conditions”, the Givealittle page read.
The devastated family have set up a Givealittle page to help pay for Maite Eulogio's funeral expenses and repatriation to Chile. Photo / Givealittle
The family were now facing an “overwhelming” financial burden to arrange a funeral for their only child.
“No parent ever imagines having to say goodbye to their child.
“As a young family living and working in Queenstown, we are now facing the unimaginable heartbreak of losing our daughter, with the overwhelming financial burden of arranging her farewell.”
The family are not eligible for assistance from the Government.
More than 900 people have donated more than $42,000 since the page opened on Saturday.
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