Mum had 'flu symptoms' before she passed away as kids opened Christmas gifts

06 January 2024 , 22:55

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Ashley Stanik leaves behind her husband Kane and their four children (Image: Channel 9)

A family have been left searching for answers after a “loving mother" suddenly died whilst her children were unwrapping their Christmas presents.

Ashley Stanik, 33, from Queensland, Australia, woke up feeling under the weather and told her husband Kane Stanik that she was going to lie back down. The childcare worker asked him to film their children opening their gifts so that she could watch them later in the day. But she never woke up.

Mr Stanik said he was left "horrified" when he realised his wife was unresponsive in bed, which was placed just metres away from the family. “I was in shock,” he said. "I just did compressions till my arms, man, they were gone, I couldn’t move them by the time the ambulance got here.”

The dad said he took their children, aged 17, 12, eight and four, across the road to have a "cuddle and a cry" as he shared the unexpected news. But one week on from the tragedy, the family are no closer to finding out what was wrong with Ashley, as her autopsy report returned as inconclusive.

Ashley went to bed whilst her kids finished opening their presents (Channel 9)

Kane filmed the children unwrapping their gifts (Channel 9)

Her mother, Frances Edwards, told A Current Affair on Friday: “She said that she had like a cold for a bit rundown and was just excited about Christmas. There’s no goodbyes, there’s no nothing, [she’s] just gone.” Mr Stanik shared how his wife had previously endured stomach issues and once had an enlarged spleen, reports News AU. Her sister-in-law, Cassandra Stanik, said the eldest children are "still in a bit of shock".

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Kane was left in 'shock' after he made the heartbreaking discovery (Channel 9)

She told The Courier Mail: “I think the two middle girls, 12 and eight, are still in a bit of shock because they don’t seem to understand what has happened,” she told the publication. The youngest one, four, is still a bit too young to fully understand, but she isn’t taking it well that mummy isn’t there when she wakes up”.

The family are now facing another wait for examination results. A fundraising page has since been set up to help support them through this difficult time. To donate visit here.

Monica Charsley