The shattered mother of one of Australia’s youngest Covid victims wants her five-year-old daughter remembered as a ‘beautiful and sweet girl, not a statistic’.
Brave Ruby McCosker died on Tuesday after her heart stopped on a ventilator in a Queensland hospital, with her mother lashing out at the government for opening borders before young children could be vaccinated.
She battled Covid for two weeks, with her health rapidly deteriorating earlier this week.
In 2018, Ruby was diagnosed in 2018 with Cockayne Syndrome Type 2, which is an incurable, rare and inherited medical condition that left her unable to talk or walk.
Despite her struggles in life, Ruby ‘lived life to the fullest’ and was a popular face at her local kindergarten.
Brave five-year-old Ruby McCosker (pictured) died on Tuesday from Covid after her heart stopped on a ventilator in a Queensland hospital – she is also the first child to die from the virus in the Sunshine State
Her heartbroken mother Ashleigh has called out the Queensland government for opening the border before her daughter was able to get a Covid shot and develop immunity
‘They resuscitated her and I think she came back so she could give me that time to say goodbye,’ a heartbroken Ms McCosker told Channel 7.
She explained she was angry Queensland’s borders were opened before children like Ruby were able to be vaccinated and develop immunity.
The earliest possible appointment for Ruby to get jabbed was last Friday – but by then she already had the deadly virus.
She was also the first child in Queensland to die from Covid.
Ruby’s genetic condition saw her given a life expectancy of seven years – with Covid cheating the little girl and her family of precious further life memories.
The little girl’s aunt Lucinda Jeffery, has organised a GoFundMe page to help raise money ahead of the funeral on February 11.
She wrote ‘we really just wanted the world to know, she wasn’t just a child who died with Covid, she was someone’s child, she was my sister Ashleigh’s beloved daughter and her name was Ruby.
‘Ruby was a much loved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend to many.
‘Her little bug eyes from her glasses were adorable and her infectious smile and spirit lit up the world.’
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk passed on her condolences to the McCosker family, saying: ‘It’s a very sad duty to have to report our first young child that has passed away due to Covid.
‘A young child under the age of 10…’It’s absolutely devastating to hear that news.’
Earlier on Thursday, it was revealed Queensland has managed to keep an extraordinarily low Covid death rate by successfully keep the dangerous Delta variant out – so far.
Over the course of the pandemic, the Sunshine State has recorded 423,260 cases in total, but 225 deaths with the virus – just 0.05 per cent of patients.
Queensland has managed to keep an extraordinarily low Covid death rate by successfully keeping the dangerous Delta variant out – so far (pictured, a resident in the CBD)
Queensland’s vaccination rate is now 92.03 per cent of people aged 16 and over with a first dose and 89.63 per cent who have received two doses (pictured, two friends in Brisbane’s CBD)
Queenslanders lining up at a vaccination hub (pictured) at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre late last year
By contrast, Victoria’s 2,029 deaths made up 0.2 per cent of 833,216 cases and NSW’s 1,422 deaths from 905,794 infections made up 0.15 per cent of cases.
Associate Professor Paul Griffin, an infectious disease specialist from the University of Queensland, also pointed to factors unique to the state.
‘Time and time again, despite our response being similar to the other states, our case numbers seem to decline quickly,’ he said.
‘We (Queensland) are relatively spread out, we have a more outdoor lifestyle and live in better ventilated homes… these factors also contribute.’
Queensland’s vaccination rate is now 92.03 per cent of people aged 16 and over with a first dose and 89.63 per cent who have received two doses.
