A 21-year-old man who tragically died after contracting rabies infection from contact with a bat has been identified as Parksville resident, Nick Major.
Major was an instructor at Cascadia Martial Arts for several years, and his colleagues and friends remember him as “an amazing and wonderful young man” who was “an inspiration to everyone”.
See also: 21-year-old man dies after contracting rabies from bat on Vancouver Island
According to the provincial Ministry of Health, he came into contact with a bat on Vancouver Island in mid-May, and died of a rabies infection on July 13th at St Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.
Health officials say that he did not develop symptoms until six weeks after exposure.
Family members, close community contacts, and healthcare workers who worked with Major are being examined and given post-exposure rabies preventive measures.
https://www.facebook.com/CascadiaMartialArtsParksville/photos/a.10151756273073951/10156581681513951/?type=3&theater
A GoFundMe account was created when Major was first taken to the hospital in order to raise funds to support him and his family.
The account was updated upon his death to reflect the tragic news, and states that all funds raised will be used to arrange funerals costs and provide his family with time to grieve.
“It is with profound sadness today that Nick went peacefully in his sleep this morning. Nick was an inspiration to everyone, and his memory will continue to inspire others as we remember him. This was such a shocking and unbelievably devastating loss for Nick’s family,” reads the update.
The account has raised over $21,600 of its $25,000 goal as of the time of publication.
Click here to contribute.
