Her final hours: Mother’s anguish after her daughter dies from meningococcal
- A Darwin woman has passed away after contracting meningococcal disease
- Mary-Ellen Hurley was taken to Palmerston Hospital but died just 3 hours later
- Ms Hurley's mother, Mrs Hurley, said her daughter was 'universally adored'
- Since her passing, loved ones have paid tribute to Ms Hurley on social media
- The bacterial infection can cause death within a few hours if not recognised
A mother has been left heartbroken after her daughter tragically passed away from a deadly disease just 24 hours after her symptoms started to show.
Mary-Ellen Hurley was admitted to Palmerston Hospital, in Palmerston near Darwin Harbour, on New Year’s Eve after she contracted meningococcal disease - but sadly died just three hours later.
Ms Hurley, whose mother has said was 'universally adored', had suffered stomach cramps and vomiting early on Sunday morning, but didn’t seek medical attention until the Monday evening.
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Mary-Ellen Hurley (pictured) sadly passed away after contracting meningococcal disease
The type of meningococcal contracted by the 34-year-old has been identified as the W strain, according to reports.
Ms Hurley’s mother Jocelyn Hurley has since described how her daughter’s health deteriorated quickly.
‘It was very swift and the most horrible, shocking thing,’ she told The Northern Territory News.
Ms Hurley was sedated and intubated, and despite the best efforts from hospital staff she sadly passed away.
Speaking of the moment Ms Hurley passed, she added: ‘All the staff were in tears as well, it was heartbreaking.
Ms Hurley (pictured, right) was described as 'one in a million' and 'universally adored' by her friends and family
‘Mary-Ellen was universally adored. Everybody who met Mary-Ellen never forgot her because she was quite loud and very vivacious and funny,’ Mrs Hurley said.
Since Ms Hurley’s sudden and tragic passing, many friends and family have taken to social media to pay tribute to her.
Her sister Tess wrote that Ms Hurley, known as Em to her loved ones, ‘wasn’t in any pain’ at the time of her passing.
‘It is important to know that Em was sedated at the time of her passing and was not in any pain.
‘Mum, Jo, her partner Justin and I were all by her side at the time of her passing,’ she wrote.
‘We understand that you would all have so many unanswered questions about what happened to Em (as do we), however we please ask that our family are given time to process our loss and grieve during this incredibly sad time,’ Tess added.
Since Ms Hurley passed away on New Year's Eve many of her loved ones have paid tribute to her on social media (pictured)
(File picture) Symptoms of meningococcal include high fever, vomiting ,bright lights, drowsiness and a persistent headache
One friend described Ms Hurley as ‘one in a million’.
She wrote: ‘Completely heartbroken by this news. So sorry for the world’s loss’.
Another friend paid her condolences, and wrote: ‘I’m so sorry for your loss Tess. Love and thoughts are with you and your family.’
Ms Hurley is one of two women in Australia to have died from the disease this year.
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(File picture) A person who contracts meningococcal disease can die within hours if left untreated
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