Melbourne teen Melody Southon suddenly dies in her sleep

A heartbroken mother has paid tribute to her ‘beautiful, respectful’ teenage daughter who died suddenly in her bed devastating a close-knit family.

Melody Southon, 17, from Seabrook in the city’s south-west, could not be woken up on Tuesday morning.

‘My girl was special in every way possible,’ her mother, Ellen Tonihi told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘[She was the] most beautiful respectful girl out.’

Agonisingly, Ms Tonihi confirmed her the cause of her New Zealand-born daughter’s death is so far unknown.  

Melody Southon, who died this week was ‘so bubbly, funny and bright’ friends said in a tribute

The Year 11 student went to school in Melbourne on Monday but was ‘suffering’ throughout the day.

‘She looked weak and other people sensed that she looked sick and tired,’ her sisters told news.com.au.

‘There was times where she was sad, but she just used to push it all to the side for anyone around her.’

The sisters added ‘we are strong humans’ and that Melody probably expected to recover. 

They described Melody as ‘a beautiful’ person and ‘a role model’.

Tributes were pouring onto social media for the New Zealand-born girl.

‘She was so bubbly, funny and bright,’ one friend wrote.

‘Rest in heaven baby sista, in our hearts forever,’ said another.

‘Moe mai ra darling,’ said another. It is a Maori phrase meaning: ‘sleep well’.

‘F***ing heart breaking, bro I’m so sorry. Sending all the love and strength to you all,’ a family friend wrote.

The family started an online fundraiser on the day she died ‘to get enough money for a coffin and farewell’.

‘We want our last moments with her to be perfect and would love to have the opportunity and funds to do so,’ wrote one sister, Monaryelle Southon.

‘She was our baby sister as well as a older sister to 11, we would really appreciate giving the rest of our baby siblings a proper way to say goodbye as it’s not something they should be witnessing so soon.’ 

The GoFundMe page had raised $7,118 by Thursday afternoon.