Shelley Tinkler: Australian cruise ship passenger in Italy on a 'holiday of a lifetime' with her friend is struck down by a mysterious illness and is now fighting for life in a coma

By PADRAIG COLLINS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

An Australian cruise passenger is fighting for her life in an Italian hospital after falling ill on a 'holiday of a lifetime'.

Shelley Tinkler is in an induced coma in the north-eastern city of Cesena after doctors discovered she had severe bacterial pneumonia.

'She got off a cruise ship and was feeling a bit unwell when all of a sudden she was really short of breath,' her high school friend Shelley Navin said.

Ms Tinkler, who is from the NSW south coast, was found to have fluid on her lungs after tests were run.

After a few days on antibiotics, Ms Navin told 7News that her friend's condition is 'critical but stable' and showing some small signs of improvement. 

Australian woman Shelley Tinkler (pictured) is fighting for her life in an Italian hospital after falling ill on a 'holiday of a lifetime' cruise which turned into a nightmare

Australian woman Shelley Tinkler (pictured) is fighting for her life in an Italian hospital after falling ill on a 'holiday of a lifetime' cruise which turned into a nightmare

Because she has endured some hard times over the years, Ms Tinkler's friends were all delighted for her to go on the much longed for adventure.

'Shelley lost her mum when we were quite young ... and she's been a single mum raising her own daughter,'Ms Navin said. 'So she's kind of had a few struggles in life.'

Before her European holiday, Ms Tinkler had moved to Queensland and started a new job.

Her friend said 'her life was finally coming together. Everything was going great. Then she told us she was going on this holiday of a lifetime with a friend.'

But what happened in Italy has left Ms Tinkler's friends 'devastated', so they set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of her medical bills and her father and brother's flights to Italy.

'They wanted to be there for her in case she woke up and needed someone there,' Ms Navin said.

As of Sunday night, the fundraiser had already raised almost $29,000 of its $35,000 goal. 

'She is just a great person and is always that person that helps everyone else before she helps herself.' 

Ms Tinkler is in an induced coma in the north-eastern Italian city of Cesena (pictured) after doctors there discovered she had severe bacterial pneumonia

Ms Tinkler is in an induced coma in the north-eastern Italian city of Cesena (pictured) after doctors there discovered she had severe bacterial pneumonia

Tinkler, who had a lot of involvement with her local community, was described by friends as 'the life of any party'.

'Shelley is just ... a great person and is always that person that helps everyone else before she helps herself,' Ms Navin said.

'She would actually be horrified to know that we've created a fundraising page ... but we didn't know what else to do to help.'

The loyal friend said the doctors hope to slowly wean Ms Tinkler out of sedation, but she will have a long road to recovery ahead of her, so 'it is vital she has family with her at all times'.

What is bacterial pneumonia? 

Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs, caused by various bacteria, the most common being Streptococcus pneumoniae.

It usually occurs when the body is weakened in some way, such as by illness, poor nutrition, old age, or impaired immunity, and the bacteria are able to work their way into the lungs.

Source: Johns Hopkins medicine 

ItalyPneumoniaNew South WalesQueensland

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