Daisy Long, a 19-year-old university student, tragically ended her life on August 6th just six weeks into the Sydney lockdown.
The student had dreams of travelling the world after she had spent years battling a debilitating chronic illness, however, the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing lockdown shut down her plans.
The lockdown in Sydney, which is part of a larger lockdown in the Australian state of New South Wales, was initially set to last only two weeks – starting June 26th and ending July 9th – but was extended several times as the state struggled to contain the Delta variant.
Daisy’s younger sister, Tiggy, 16, said in an interview on the Australian news programme Today: “It’s been extremely difficult. I’ve felt like there’s just a missing piece in my life.
“Daisy was the one who taught me strength and she went through many challenges in life. She always had a smile on her face and held her head high.”
Daisy was chronically ill with a tick-borne disease between the ages of 13 and 16.
Her mother, Sally said: “During those years, when she should have been at school having fun and enjoying herself, instead she was bed-bound.
“We kept saying to her ‘once you are better, your life will be better and you will go ahead and achieve your goals and dreams.’ She focused on that. She applied for psychology at Macquarie University, was accepted and began her degree this year. She received high distinctions. Then COVID lockdown began. It sent her spiralling downwards.”
Her sister Tiggy said that Daisy suffered the effects of lockdown more than anyone, saying that Daisy felt lonely and trapped in a prison.
Read More: Teen Commits Suicide 6 Weeks into COVID-19 Lockdown in Sydney
