A 28 year old man from coastal New South Wales, Australia has died after doctors found extensive damage to his lungs.
Dylan Jay Watts lived in Moruya and was the father of an eight year old son.
Watts died on March 22 after a bacterial infection caused severe complications. Doctors later said his lungs contained 72 holes at the time of his death.
Friends and family said the loss has been devastating. They said several people in their social circle had died in recent years.
Family friend Cheyenne O’Brien said Watts had been seriously ill for weeks. She said his death still came as a shock to those close to him.
Long decline in health
Watts had known about his lung problems for several years. In 2021, doctors found two holes in one of his lungs during a scan.
Over the next year, his health steadily declined. He experienced reflux, lethargy, and a persistent cough.
The cough did not improve with over the counter medication. He also struggled with mental health issues.
Watts’ sister Caitlyn said the family learned how serious his condition was in July last year. She said he had already spent weeks in hospital.
“I found out in July of last year how severe things had begun to get,” she told Daily Mail Australia. She said doctors had found holes in his lungs.
“He had been in hospital for three weeks after coughing up blood,” she said. She said doctors told him he might have died if he had waited longer.
Doctors told Watts he was unlikely to reach 30 because of the bacteria in his lungs. The family said they did not expect his condition to worsen so fast.
Final months and treatment
Watts received specialist treatment in early 2024. Doctors admitted him to hospital for three weeks after he suffered a lung hemorrhage.
By mid 2024, scans showed the number of holes in his lungs had risen to 72. Caitlyn said the change left the family stunned.
“He was on so much medication and antibiotics that it filled an entire backpack,” she said. She said he remained hopeful about recovering.
Watts’ mother, Suzanne, collected her son and his dog, Polar. She began arranging long term care for him.
Five days later, Watts died. His family said the timing made the loss even harder to process.
Family tributes and fundraiser
Relatives and friends have since launched a GoFundMe campaign. They hope to raise AU$6,000 to cover funeral costs.
The fundraiser has raised more than AU$4,600. Caitlyn wrote a message to honour her brother.
“Let this be a reminder that those you love can be gone in an instant,” she wrote. She urged people to tell loved ones they care.
“There is a fragility in all of us,” she added. She said Watts would always be remembered by those who loved him.
O’Brien also shared a statement on the page. She said the family now faces grief and the stress of planning a funeral.
“To help Dylan’s family be able to celebrate his life and have the send off that he deserves please donate,” she wrote. She also asked people to share the page.
Friends said Watts took pride in being a father. When his son was born, he wrote that he felt a new sense of purpose.
“Words cannot describe how much more purpose I feel with you in my life,” he said.
Featured image credit: Facebook
