Huge grief at honeymoon death in Fiji

A YOUNG Sydney woman has been remembered as an amazing person and a brilliant nurse after she died while on her honeymoon in Fiji.

Kelly Clarke, 24, was with husband Chase when she fell ill and was rushed to hospital on Wednesday with what was initially thought to be typhoid.

Mrs Clarke’s sister started a fundraiser to bring her home for emergency treatment, saying she had been placed in an induced coma due to organ failure and septicaemia.

“She needs a medivac ASAP as Fiji don’t have the medications she needs,” Tam Brown wrote, but she died before she could be evacuated.

Her brother said on Facebook said she had gone into cardiac arrest five times.

“We are so shocked,” Murray Shaw wrote.

“You beautiful girl and amazing sister you will be deeply missed.”

Mrs Clarke was a registered nurse at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and a hospital spokeswoman offered condolences yesterday to her family, friends and colleagues.

“Kelly was a dedicated nurse who loved working with children and will be greatly missed by her colleagues and patients,” she said.

Friends and relatives paid tribute to her on social media, with one co-worker remembering “an amazing woman, a brilliant nurse and such a kind and gentle soul”.

“She was one of the most beautiful, caring, giving people I have ever been lucky enough to meet,” another wrote.

Mr Clarke was at the resort collecting the couple’s belongings when doctors put her under sedation.

“She said over the phone she was scared she was going to die and I just told her I loved her — what else could I say?” Mr Clarke, 28, said.

“I told her to be strong, that I was coming straight back and to rest up because she needed her strength.”

Mrs Clarke died at 10.40pm on Friday, less than an hour before a medical evacuation team arrived to fly her to Sydney. Mr Clarke said blood tests had ruled out typhoid.

The couple had been holidaying in the lead-up to the wedding of Mr Clarke’s mate.

Fijian doctors have said they will not release Mrs Clarke’s body until they have conducted an autopsy.