Ally Behan who died from meningococcal after Spilt Milk festival saves lives with organ donation

An 18-year-old girl who died of meningococcus after attending a music festival donated her organs, saving the lives of five people, including a child.

Ally Behan’s family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support over the weekend, after she fell seriously ill after attending the Spilled Milk music festival in Canberra on November 26.

Days after the teenager returned home to the tight-knit seaside town of Manyana on the south coast of New South Wales, Ms Behan began experiencing gastroenteritis-like symptoms, which quickly turned into something more sinister.

Ms Behan’s mother rushed her to Canberra Hospital but her condition deteriorated rapidly and she was on life support last week and on Sunday she showed no brain activity.

He died shortly after his life support was switched off, with NSW Health confirming his death on Monday.

“Ally loved helping people and that’s what she did in her final hours by giving the incredible gift of donating her organs, which saved the lives of five different people, one of whom is a small child,” said her family in a statement. .

The family of Ally Behan (pictured) made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her life support over the weekend, after she fell seriously ill after attending the Spilled Milk music festival in Canberra on November 26.

A family friend of Ms Behan had previously told Daily Mail Australia that the teenager “couldn’t stop vomiting” and lost movement in her legs in the days after the festival.

“Unfortunately, he had a seizure,” the family friend said.

The 18-year-old had just graduated from Ulladulla High School and was awaiting the results of her final exams.

“Anyone who has known Ally will know that there are no words to describe the widespread devastation felt at the loss of our beautiful girl,” her family said.

Ms. Behan was celebrating the end of school and waiting for her test results before coming into contact with the horrible disease.

‘Ally was young, energetic and loved her family and friends. She was beautiful both inside and out, she loved to laugh and enjoyed jokes.

Her loved ones said family was important to the teen, who was very close to her mother, father and older brother.

“She was always there for anyone, providing love and support when needed. Ally was loving and loyal with a great love for animals,” her family said.

Spilled Milk organizers issued a warning on Saturday that an attendee had contracted meningococcus and was receiving treatment in Canberra.

“This Year 12 school leaver, she had the rest of her life ahead of her and it’s a vaccine-preventable disease,” Australian Meningitis Center chief executive Karen Quick said on Monday.

Ms Quick confirmed that Ms Behan was not vaccinated against the meningococcal B strain, the only strain not included in the free vaccine offered to all Australian students in Year 10.

They can be vaccinated against all five common strains of meningococcal disease: A, B, C, W, and Y.

However, the free vaccine for high school students only provides protection against A, C, W, and Y.

Parents and youth, especially those who attended Spilled Milk, have been urged to be alert for symptoms of meningococcal disease and to act immediately if they appear.

Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious disease that is spread through saliva and can sometimes be fatal.

It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis and symptoms can include a dark purple rash, diarrhea, fever and chills, fatigue, vomiting, and severe aches and pains.

Ally Behan (above) died on Sunday of meningococcus after attending Canberra’s Spilled Milk music festival on November 26. Her organs saved the lives of five people.