The tragic death of this 18 y/o is all too close to home.

By SHAUNA ANDERSON

She loved lite vanilla ice cream and horror movies.

Her bedroom was messy – but she liked it that way. Her mother said she was moody.

She was a keen photographer.

She was loved and cherished by her family. She was adored by her friends.

But now, tragically, she is dead.

Killed, according to media reports, by binge drinking.

Spirits. At a high school party.

The death of 18-year old Bayli Elliot from Timaru in New Zealand has stunned her family and friends and sent many New Zealanders into a state of self-reflection.

This young woman, on the brink of adulthood, had attended a party on Sunday night. It was a long weekend in New Zealand and she arrived late to the fun.

It is reported that she was drinking spirits with friends.
She was found several hours later lying on the ground in a comatose state.

An ambulance was called but the 18-year old woman who ‘loved daydreaming in the shower’ was dead.

Stuff.co.nz write that the local school community are shocked at her death, mourning “one of the most kindest, strong-hearted girls ever”.

The school principal described her as “one of the students that pulled groups together.”

Tributes to Bayli have flooded her Facebook page.

“Wtf I actually can’t believe this … You of all people, one of the most kindest, strong-hearted girls ever! Your a beautiful girl and I’m sad to hear this R.i.p Bayli /: Xoxox”

“Bayli! You were my best friend! Aw im gonna miss you so god damn much. I wish this didn’t happen to you, you didn’t deserve it at all. Rest in peace my gorgeous friend x

The New Zealand Herald reports that her death will be investigated by the Coroner but it seems most likely a drinking binge late into the night killed her.

As her family and friends struggle to come to terms with the loss of the young woman, alcohol awareness groups have spoken out about the dangers of binge drinking.

Action NZ medical spokesman Professor Doug Sellman told The New Zealand Herald that young people would continue to die from binge drinking until laws were changed.

“You only need to drink about 20 standard drinks to die from alcohol,” he said.

“It’s tragic … young people underestimating how much they’re drinking because it has been so normalised in our society,” Professor Sellman said.

An editorial in The Press backed up his call for a re-think over the casual attitude society has to alcohol  “The notion that it is socially acceptable to get leglessly drunk is still too prevalent. Drinking and driving has come to be regarded as beyond the pale. Drinking until you fall down should be too.”

The death of this young woman is tragic. Terrible.

And what breaks your heart the most – unnecessary.

And yet so close to home many of us have been there –an 18-year old doing exactly that.

Drinking, having fun, unaware.

Did we ever know we were flirting with death?

The editorial in The Press goes on to make a very relevant point.

“The average New Zealander now consumes more than the average person worldwide (many of whom do not consume alcohol at all, of course), but considerably less than the average Australian. For most, alcohol is a harmless, moderate, occasional indulgence. “

But are we in the same boat? Harmless, moderate, occasional?

Look around at teenagers you know. This could just as likely have been them. You. Or twenty years ago – me.

In Australia, one in eight deaths under the age of 25 is related to alcohol consumption.

According to a National Council on Drugs report released late last year 2/3 of 18-29-year-olds drink “specifically to get drunk”.

One in five young people hospitalised are there for reasons relating to alcohol.

In Australia alcohol is a problem, and one that isn’t getting better, but dangerously worse.

The family of Bayli Elliot have put out a statement “The sudden loss of a friend or loved one is never easy, but to know that your daughter is never coming home is really, really hard to comprehend.”

This is a reality faced by too many Australian families as well.

Our thoughts are with the family of Bayli and her school community and friends.

If you or anyone you know needs help you can call 

CounsellingOnline
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
a free alcohol and drug counselling online. 

or

Kids Help Line
1800 55 1800
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Free and confidential telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25