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Shop NowA family is reeling from the sudden and unexpected death of a 14-year-old boy, William Pfeiffer, who died in his sleep earlier this week with no apparent health issues. William had gone to a sleepover at the home of his grandparents on Sunday night but never woke up.
William Pfeiffer was a “happy and healthy” 14-year-old boy when he went to sleep at his grandparents’ house last Sunday night. But the teenager from Queenstown didn’t wake up the next day. He died in his sleep. Read more: https://t.co/XFiw4Dfj9F #TheAdvertiser pic.twitter.com/VMXNfdGRcC
— The Advertiser (@theTiser) August 23, 2023
William’s parents Karen Lynch and Mike Shaw are struggling as they await a report from a coroner to discover what might have caused their son’s sudden death. A family friend, Nicole Banns, told The Advertiser that William was looking forward to his school’s upcoming book week and described him as “happy and healthy”. She also spoke about how he was discovered: “I think they just [realized] that he was sleeping in bed and they checked on him and [realized] that something wasn’t right.”
Banns further said that the family is devastated by the tragedy stating, “It’s just traumatic and it’s just so unfair.” She went on to describe how William had a heart of gold; she said he was “just like a sunshine” who could make everyone laugh with his clownish antics. He was also well-behaved with her noting how he “would never do anything wrong.”
'Healthy' 14-year-old boy dies in his sleep at his grandparents' house, family in shock https://t.co/A3rAw7wCGb pic.twitter.com/CHB6G79PPB
— James Thorp MD (@jathorpmfm) August 24, 2023
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for final expenses and to help the family during the grieving period. In order to help cover William’s final expenses as well as support his parents during their grieving period, Banns has launched a GoFundMe campaign which has already raised over $40K of its $50K goal. All proceeds will go towards Karen who will be unable to work for some time due to her grief.
“On Sunday 20th August, 2023 we received the devastating news that their son William unexpectedly passed away in his sleep at just 14 years of age,” the GoFundMe campaign reads.
Vax Status?
'Healthy' 14-year-old boy dies in his sleep at his grandparents' house, family in shock https://t.co/OVlX1zu4d2
— Beri (@sniffydogs) August 24, 2023
It added: “No parent should ever have to endure the loss of a child. The grief alone is terrible, but the added stress of financial strain just adds to the pain. Karen will be unable to work for a while as she deals with her grief.”
No parent should ever have to experience such an unimaginable loss of an innocent soul taken too soon – our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event during this difficult time.
