A father whose son died of a stress-related seizure has blamed online trolls who targeted the uni student after he was suspended for his role in a racist party.
Andrew Stanham, 22, was found dead in the shower of his shared house in Wagga Wagga, about 150km west of Canberra, on Wednesday.
The Charles Sturt University student was among those punished by the university for dressing in KKK robes and posing as Nazi concentration camp prisoners and guards.
A father whose son (pictured) died of a stress-related seizure has blamed online trolls who targeted the uni student after he was suspended for his role in a racist party
Andrew Stanham, 22, was found dead in the shower of his shared house in Wagga Wagga, about 150km west of Canberra, on Wednesday (pictured is a photo from the party)
The Charles Sturt University student was among those punished by the university for dressing in KKK robes and posing as Nazi concentration camp prisoners and guards (pictured is a photo from the party)
His father, Mark Stanham, said Andrew had been targeted by social justice warriors online and was left terrified by abuse received from trolls, The Daily Telegraph reported.
‘I think we do have a situation where political correctness has gone too far,’ Mr Stanham said.
‘The jury is out on the cause of death, we suspect it was an epileptic seizure which resulted in a fall which led to a compromised airway. There is no doubt that stress is a contributing factor.’
Mr Stanham said he son had ‘copped a lot of vitriol’ and was ‘petrified to walk down the streets of Wagga’.
His father Mark said Andrew (stock image) had been targeted by social justice warriors online and was left terrified by abuse received from trolls
Mr Stanham (pictured) said he son had ‘copped a lot of vitriol’ and was ‘petrified to walk down the streets of Wagga’
Earlier this month the university suspended several students over the June 14 incident, citing breaches of the university’s Anti-Racism Policy.
Students were ordered to undergo cultural awareness training, and were barred from campus, a source said.
They were also required to undertake further studies in Indigenous Australian Cultures, Histories and Contemporary Realities and engage with the Indigenous and Jewish communities.
Friends paid tribute to Andrew on social media, with one friend saying he was still in shock over the loss of his mate.
‘RIP mate, will have a beer when I see you next. Love you mate. Gonna miss you big time you have been a huge part of my life,’ he wrote.
A Charles Sturt University spokesperson expresses their condolences and extended thought and sympathies to Andrew’s family and friends.
A Charles Sturt University spokesperson expresses their condolences and extended thought and sympathies to Andrew’s family and friends (stock image)