A Wellington schoolgirl has died from suspected meningococcal disease just two hours after developing a rash, leaving her family horrified.
Amanda Crook-Barker, 12, had a busy weekend with friends and family, but on Monday morning she was off school feeling "a little bit sick" and vomiting.
Her mother Lisa Crook told the Dominion Post her daughter was feeling better after lunch, but about 3pm she developed a rash.
An ambulance was called and paramedics began working on her straight away on the way to hospital.
"As soon as she got to hospital a team of doctors pretty much jumped on her. They worked on her for about an hour and a half, and she died about 5pm," Ms Crook said.
"You'd think there would be warning, but there was just nothing.
"Even once she got to hospital and got antibiotics, she was talking. We thought she was coming right. [Then] her heart, I think, just gave in."
Monday was also Ms Crook's birthday, but she says she will probably never celebrate it again.
"The aftermath of what it did to her - that wasn't my daughter. It was almost like she had been attacked by the plague, that's how horrific it was."
If meningococcal disease is confirmed, it will be the 16th case, and first fatal case, in Wellington this year.
There were 13 deaths from meningococcal disease nationally last year.
NZN