Girl, 7, dies hours after Queenstown hospital discharge
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
The parents of a girl who died hours after visiting a Queenstown hospital are asking for help to return the body of their “beloved daughter” to their home country.
Jennifer Eulogio and her young family were living and working in Queenstown when her daughter, Maite Contreras Eulogio, 7, suddenly fell ill last week.
Maite was a happy, healthy little girl with no underlying medical conditions, the Givealittle page says.
“When she first became unwell, we took her to the emergency department at Lakes District Hospital, where she was assessed and discharged home.
“Just a few hours later, her condition worsened, and we rushed back to the emergency department. Tragically, she passed away shortly after our arrival.
“On 9 July, 2026, our lives changed forever when we suddenly and unexpectedly lost our only child.
“As a young family living and working in Queenstown, we are now facing the unimaginable heartbreak of losing our daughter, along with the overwhelming financial burden of arranging her farewell.”
Eulogio launched a Givealittle page to help pay for Maite’s funeral expenses and repatriation to Chile, as the family are not eligible for government assistance.
More than 500 people have donated more than $23,500, exceeding the goal by more than $10,000 since the page was crated on Saturday.
One family sent its love and support to Maite’s family.
“Rest in love darling Maite, you were a beautiful soul and wonderfully kind to my son Matai when we were settling into kindy,” a post on the Givelittle page says.
The Press understands Maite attended Fiordland Kindergarten before starting at Shotover Primary School.
A Shotover Primary School staff member, who also donated, said: “Maite will be dearly missed at school.”
Another person who donated said her heart broke for Eulogio.
“I have such fond memories of Maite during her new entrant days. I wish you strength to navigate this unimaginable time.”
The death has been referred to the coroner.
Health NZ was approached for comment, but a spokesperson said the agency required a privacy waiver to be signed before it could respond to questions.