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A family has been left heartbroken after their young daughter suddenly died after contracting meningococcal disease.
Hairdresser Rebekah May Emmett, 23, died last week in Wellington, New Zealand, ‘after a short and hard fight’.
Her family said their ‘beautiful girl was suddenly and unfairly taken’ and that Ms Emmett was a ‘special friend to many’.
Ms Emmett had a passion for animals, dancing and music, and had been working as a senior stylist at Wellington’s Z & Hair Co before her death.
Rebekah Emmett (pictured) died suddenly after contracting meningococcal disease
Hairdresser Rebekah May Emmett, 23, died last week in the New Zealand capital Wellington ‘after a short and hard fight’, her family said. Ms Emmett is pictured
‘She was cherished and adored by all who knew her,’ they said in a statement.
The family also thanked the intensive care unit team at Wellington Hospital for the care they gave their loved one in her final days.
Ms Emmett was originally from Hawke’s Bay on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island and was involved with the local Caledonian Pipe Band for many years.
Her Scottish heritage led her to start dancing at the age of three.
In 2016, a local newspaper article wrote the then 16-year-old student had swapped her highland dancer shoes for drumsticks as she competed in the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Championships.
But she had not given up on dancing, and was part of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo which marched into Wellington’s Westpac Stadium that same year.
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‘I prefer dancing because I started so young, it’s a big part of my life,’ she said at the time.
Pipe Major Jarrod Cawood shared a tribute to Ms Emmett following news of her death.
‘Whether it was her vibrant smile, her unwavering support, or her genuine care for others, she left an indelible mark on our hearts,’ he wrote on Facebook.
‘Let us remember Rebekah not only for the profound impact she had on our lives but also for the joy, laughter, and love she brought into our community.
‘May her spirit continue to inspire us as we honour her memory and support one another through this challenging time,’ Mr Cawood wrote.
A friend of Ms Emmet’s wrote: ‘My heart is breaking. I’ll miss her terribly.’
‘This is so devastating to hear, she has the biggest heart,’ another wrote.
In Australia, the most common types of meningococcal bacteria are called B, W and Y, according to government health advice. Rebekah Emmett, who died from meningococcal disease last week
Her family and friends held a celebration of Ms Emmett’s life on Monday.
Her family asked that ‘In lieu of flowers, a donation box to the SPCA will be available at the service to honour Rebekah’s love of animals.’
The chairman of New Zealand’s Meningitis Foundation, Gerard Rushton, said Ms Emmett’s death reinforces the need to protect people from the disease.
‘We’ve been advocating for a long time now to protect everyone and provide free meningococcal vaccines and so we urge the (New Zealand) government to act quickly to prevent what is a preventable disease,’ he told the NZ Herald.
‘We’re advocating to protect all our young people from this disease because it is not selective and it can strike anywhere,’ Mr Rushton said.
In Australia, the most common types of meningococcal bacteria are called B, W and Y, according to government health advice.
The bacteria lives in the nose or throat and can be spread through coughing, sneezing, eating and drinking from shared utensils and kissing.
The main symptoms of meningococcal disease are a rash of red or purple pinprick spots, or larger bruise-like areas, that does not turn skin-coloured when you press on it with a finger or the side of a clear drinking glass.
Other symptoms include fever, headache, a stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea, diarrhoea, drowsiness and difficulty walking or talking.
In babies and young children, meningococcal disease could be indicated by the child refusing food, being floppy, having a seizure or a high moaning cry.
