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A mum has ‘died of a broken heart’ days after the tragic death of her 34-year-old son.
Her son Goran Ilich, whose cause of death has not been confirmed, passed away on 12 November, and his body was found by his mum Elizabeth, who sadly died just three days later.
Her son was living in Coober Pedy, a remote town in South Australia, which has been left distraught by the sudden deaths from its small population of just 2,000 people.
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The Coober Pedy Regional Times described Goran as 'popular among all age groups' and said that he 'had a natural charm and was well-mannered and polite'.
The local news outlet also revealed the tragic death of his mother, too, which is believed to have been caused by her intense ‘grief’ after the death of her child.
They reported: "In the early hours of Monday morning, a grief-stricken Elizabeth Ilich awoke with chest pains and called friends for assistance.
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"An ambulance was called but Ms Ilich passed away in hospital some hours later.
"Friends have related that Ms Ilich had a heart condition and believe that the grief from her son's death caused a heart attack."
The tragic story has now been dubbed as a 'double tragedy'.
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The British Heart Foundation states that when a person seemingly dies of a broken heart, they may have a condition known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy - otherwise known as ‘broken heart syndrome’.
It is said to share symptoms that are similar to a heart attack, but it is actually a completely different condition.
While most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot in the coronary artery, those with ‘broken heart syndrome’ have a persistently swollen heart muscle, which can affect its functioning.
The cause of the condition appears to be unclear but can be triggered by trauma, with studies showing that it is more common in women.
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However, other medical experts disagree that dying of a 'broken heart' is a legitimate cause of death.
Following Goran's untimely death, a GoFundMe was set up to help cover his burial costs and described him as a 'beautiful soul' who has been taken 'too soon'.
"Everyone that interacted with Goran knew he was different, he could talk to anyone and charm them with his charisma and personality," the page read.
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"Goran has left an impact on all of us in so many different ways and so many other cities."
The page was set up with an initial fundraising goal of AU $20,000 (£11,000), but more than double this amount has now been raised.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
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Gabriella Ferlita