Nathan Turner’s family demand apology after he was declared ‘Australia’s youngest coronavirus victim

The family of Nathan Turner are demanding an apology from the government after the coal miner was declared ‘Australia’s youngest COVID-19 victim’ only for an autopsy to reveal he didn’t have the virus.

The 30-year-old was found dead at his home in Blackwater, in regional Queensland, by his fiancee Simone Devon last Tuesday.

Queensland Health said Mr Turner died from coronavirus in a case that puzzled doctors given he had not left his small town since February.

But on Monday, in a shocking twist, an autopsy found Mr Turner did not have the deadly virus.  

Mr Turner’s friends have created a Change.org petition calling on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and chief health officer Jeannette Young to apologise to his family and the community for creating ‘chaos and panic’.

The family of Nathan Turner are demanding an apology from the government after the coal miner was declared ‘Australia’s youngest COVID-19 victim’ only for an autopsy to reveal he never had the virus 

Mr Turner's friends have created a Change.org petition calling on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Dr Young apologise to his family

Mr Turner’s friends have created a Change.org petition calling on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Dr Young apologise to his family

Mr Turner's family are demanding Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also say sorry to the Blackwater community for creating 'chaos and panic' in the small mining town

Mr Turner’s family are demanding Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also say sorry to the Blackwater community for creating ‘chaos and panic’ in the small mining town

‘Your leadership created emotional, mental and physical trauma to the loved ones of Nathan’s family and friends and especially to his fiancé Simone who endured so much pain then anyone else,’ family friend Nicole Muller wrote on the petition.

‘Nathan’s passing was used as tool to create chaos and panic to a community, state and a country.

‘You should be ashamed of yourself and if you had any human decency left then you will apologise for creating trauma to this family whilst you caused panic to our community. 

‘This is unacceptable behaviour from our leaders in power who forced a family to sit in silence and not to comment about the chaos they were about to inflict on our state.’ 

After just a few hours the petition had already gathered 2,082 signatures from its 2,500 goal. 

Ms Devon, who works at the town’s bakery, broke the news that her fiance never had coronavirus via her employer’s Facebook page. 

‘We have just got word from our staff member Nathan’s partner that his autopsy report has come in and Nathan has been CLEARED as COVID 19 NEGATIVE,’ Ms Devon’s colleague Kelly Bunyoung posted on Facebook. 

Queensland Health confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that further tests have returned negative for COVID-19.  

‘The Coroner tonight advised that further tests have returned negative for COVID-19. He is yet to determine the man’s cause of death,’ Dr Young said.

Ms Devon’s mother Lorraine told The Australian Queensland’s coroner had confirmed the results of the post mortem to the family.

‘They have told us that there was no trace of the virus in his system,’ she said. 

‘The autopsy has not been completed, and they can’t yet say how he died.’ 

Mr Turner had a series of health problems and had been displaying symptoms in the weeks before his death, but was only tested after his body was found. 

Nathan Turner, who was thought to be Australia's youngest COVID-19 victim, didn't die from the virus

Nathan Turner, who was thought to be Australia’s youngest COVID-19 victim, didn’t die from the virus 

Nathan Turner is pictured with his partner Simone Devon, who discovered his body last Tuesday after she returned from work

Nathan Turner is pictured with his partner Simone Devon, who discovered his body last Tuesday after she returned from work

Mr Turner had a series of health problems and had been off work since November after suffering seizures

Mr Turner had a series of health problems and had been off work since November after suffering seizures

He had been off work since November after suffering seizures.

After the 30-year-old’s death was made public, Dr Young said suggestions he did not have the disease appeared incorrect.

‘There was a test done … which is a very sensitive test and it came back positive,’ Ms Young told reporters.

‘I believe it was a positive.’

Ms Young said Mr Turner had a ‘complicated medical history’ that ‘needs to be worked through’ and did not know the impact of his other medical issues. 

‘Whether or not COVID-19 was the precipitating cause for his death, that’s how we report it,’ she said.

Since his May 26 death, Mr Turner’s family has maintained they didn’t believe COVID-19 caused his death, as he also suffered from epilepsy and asthma, and regularly caught the flu.

Mystery surrounded the suspected coronavirus case, after it was revealed Mr Turner had not left the small town in months and there were no other known local cases.

Mr Turner’s death sparked fears of an outbreak in Blackwood and locals were tested en masse last week. 

Ms Devon tested negative to the virus three times and more than 500 Blackwater residents also returned negative results. 

The family is also demanding an apology from Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young, who on Monday confirmed Mr Turner tested negative to COVID-19

The family is also demanding an apology from Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young, who on Monday confirmed Mr Turner tested negative to COVID-19

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk