Eight months after the death of 46-year-old Naracoorte man Cody Williams, his family says they are still searching for answers – and demanding accountability so no other family experiences the same heartbreak.

In a confronting and deeply personal letter to The [Naracoorte] News, local resident Donna Armoogum details the final days of her brother’s life, including multiple hospital admissions, allegations of ongoing pain and unanswered concerns, and the traumatic scenes the family says they encountered at the taxpayer-funded Naracoorte Hospital on the night he died.

The matter is now before the Coroner, with the family alleging they still do not know exactly how Mr Williams died.

This newspaper [The Naracoorte News] has chosen to publish an edited version of Ms Armoogum’s letter, alongside responses from the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) and state Health minister Blair Boyer, because of the serious concerns raised and the broader public interest surrounding regional healthcare, transparency, communication, and patient care.

The LCLHN says a “comprehensive clinical review” was undertaken and that established clinical processes were followed, while also identifying “opportunities to further strengthen systems and practices”.

The minister said he had sought advice on the matter and acknowledged the family’s ongoing engagement with the health system.

Letter to The [Naracoorte] News:

My brother (Cody Williams) died last year, in September 2025.

Cody was admitted to hospital three times in just six days.

First admission Tuesday, 9 September 2025:

It was Cody’s first admission to hospital via ambulance and was discharged Wednesday, 10 (September) 2025.

I visited Cody when he came home from hospital. Cody said what a waste of a visit. They did nothing for my pain, not listening to me and if it wasn’t for the ambulance driver, they would have sent me home after an hour. The ambos made sure I stayed in hospital.

Cody told me the DR (doctor) said to take his medication for hypertension, which was in the chemist.

The Dr (doctor) told him to go on a diet, get some light exercise, and he told me the DR (doctor) said something else, but couldn’t remember what (the doctor) said…but it pissed him off.

Second admission Thursday, 11th September 2025:

Cody’s pain was unbearable. Our dad had to rush Cody back to the hospital.

The pain started in his upper abdomen and radiated through to his back sharp, constant, and consuming. Dad called me all upset seeing Cody in the state he was in.

During his hospital stay, a CT scan revealed he needed surgery a severe infection in his gallbladder. Cody spent 11th and 12th (September) in the hospital.

He was discharged again on the 13 of September, even though he was in so much pain and uncomfortable.

Cody and I had a conversation on his second admission in hospital, (and) he felt like he was being judged because he snored which he was woken up for and the nurse gave him some suggestion on seeing a DR (doctor) about his snoring. Cody said I sleep just fine. Cody was pissed with (the nurses) comments. He asked for some pain medication.

He fell asleep and when he woke up, his pain was through the roof, and his medication was on his over-way.

Cody said they can wake me up for snoring, but they cannot wake me up to give me my medication.

Cody also told the DR (doctor) he was a marijuana smoker and (was on) medical cannabis prescription. Cody felt they judged him on being a smoker, plus being overweight.

Cody weighed 138kg. Cody also stated to me that he told them he was bleeding from his bowels, he said they kept telling me I had haemorrhoids. I asked him if anyone investigated the haemorrhoids, he said no. Cody said I got angry with them for asking about haemorrhoids.

During Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th, he couldn’t find comfort no matter what he did sitting, standing, lying down, walking, heat packs and lots of hot showers to help ease the pain.

He tried everything, moving from three different beds to couches to recliners, desperate to find relief.

Dad even massaged his back to try and ease the pain.

Anyone else would have collapsed under the enormous amount of pain he endured, but Cody like all of us siblings had a high pain threshold. Still, even that wasn’t enough. He was suffering.

I gave him a few massages over the two days (at his home), but he couldn’t handle the touch. I had to gently pat deep heat on his back because the pain was too much. He commented they sent a referral to Mount Gambier (hospital).

He was encouraged to see his GP on Monday (and) to make an appointment about gall bladder surgery.

Monday, 15th September, around 4am:

The pain had become too much.

Cody got up to take a hot shower, hoping for a moment of relief. But he felt dizzy, weak, and lightheaded like he was about to pass out, he said I could feel myself falling and I couldn’t do anything.

About 45 minutes later, he came to, vomiting frank blood. The pain was unbearable.

He had new bruises and injuries from the fall, two wounds, first degree burns from the hot water when he fell against the tap. He had a lot of pain to his hip. Ambulance transferred (him) to hospital at 5am.

When I visited him (at) 8.00am he looked like a ghost pale, clammy. He said he couldn’t feel the old pain anymore, only the new pain from his fall.

He told me he was just so tired, so worn out, so over it all. Cody went to sit up and he moaned, his facial expression showed he was in pain.

I asked if he has pain meds, his comment “I’ve been here since 5am and had no pain meds.”

I said I doubt that (and) he gave me the devils look and said I asked 30 minutes ago. I found his nurse and asked for his meds, (the nurse) said I’m onto it now, actually. I had to leave for work, I hugged him and gave him a kiss I’m his sister, his rock and he cried.

Cody never cried. That moment broke me. I left him about 8.50am and met my husband downstairs (at the hospital) and told him I’ve just asked the nurse for pain meds; make sure he gets them.

My husband called me after leaving the hospital.

He was pissed they hadn’t given Cody his pain medication that I had asked for. Cody needed to go to the toilet, my husband had to assist Cody to the toilet, and he said that was a huge struggle just for Cody to walk and then he had to go and ask the nurse again for pain medication. Cody’s really not good baby, I don’t like this (husband said).

At 7.00pm, my son and I visited Cody in the hospital. My son made me buy Uncle Cody’s favourite lollies and he can share with me, my son commented.

My son was very emotional seeing Uncle Cody being sick. Cody explained to me the (hospital) was going to discharge him tomorrow. I said let’s see how tonight goes, but I will be here 8.00am and you will be transferred to another hospital. I’m taking over as from tomorrow about your care.

My son gave Cody a hug and said I love you, (and) gave him knuckles. I gave Cody a hug and kiss, but this hug was longer than ever, it was emotional and he commented I’m so over this sis. He was crying. I told him I’ll see him at 8.00am.

At 10.11pm on 15th September I missed a call from the hospital.

At 10.13pm I answered, and the bad news came. I was in shock; I started yelling at the Dr (doctor) and I said you killed my brother.

I woke my family up and they (were) all crying and shocked with my behaviour, and when I was able to say the words because I was hyperventilating after I hung up from the DR (doctor), I told my family uncle is dead.

My husband and I went to the hospital. I was so angry, words cannot explain. My husband and I went to Cody’s room, I yelled out his name, placed my hands on his face and told him to wake up.

My husband went outside, grabbed a bin and threw down the hallway, verbally abusing the staff. The DR (doctor) came and I pointed my finger in his face and accused him of killing my brother.

I went back to Cody, hyperventilating in his room. I asked if I could clean his face, before my father sees him.

I was not allowed to because he was a case for the coroner.

At one stage, I asked the nurse who was trying to calm us down. I told (the nurse) to call the cops because I said it doesn’t matter how much you try to calm him (my husband) or me, someone killed my brother. Police were called to code black.

I quickly left the hospital to get my dad and my youngest brother. The shock (and) the anger, I cannot explain. What I was feeling and trying to explain to my dad and brother (about) what happened.

We got to the hospital, my husband (was) still angry and was being approached by the police to try and calm him down. Which was an unimageable scene for the patients to listen to, or the nurses to experience the kind of behaviour my husband and I showed.

I will not apologise for our actions.

What we sighted, words cannot not explain the sight of my brother from an upper gastric bleed.

I will not explain that sight, this is something my family have nightmares about every day since he died.

We don’t want to share that information.

That moment shattered me and my family we knew we would never see him again. I was left broken, filled with anger, and unable to steady myself. The bond we shared is gone now. All that remains are memories in my heart and a silence that can never be filled.

He passed away at 10pm on the 15th of September, and no one knows why.

That’s to be decided by the coroner no one else.

My husband left the hospital to be with his mother and our children.

I stayed with my dad and my brother, and we stared in silence at the blood stain in the lounge room of my father’s house where Cody’s frank blood vomit was.

I sent a message to two of Cody’s best mates from Cody’s phone saying, “hey bro, when you wake up, call my sister.”

I didn’t get to tell them because they had already found out.

At 6.45am, they rocked up at my dad’s house saying tell me it isn’t true.

At 4.00pm, the police from the night before came to check on my family.

The police I cannot thank them enough for their compassion and empathy (that) they showed us. Thank you.

On Wednesday 17th, I was asked to go for coffee at a friend’s house. I had it in my head that I won’t go. I was walking around the street at 8.30am, lost and in a daze, I actually didn’t know what I was doing.

I was in a daze, still not saying anything and not really listening to anything else my so-called friend was saying.

On Friday 19th, dad and I had to go shopping. We had lots of friends, and (the) local community people who know our family, sent their condolences.

This was our story to tell if we wanted to. Not anyone else’s.

Donna Armoogum, Naracoorte

LCLHN is committed to making improvements

Response from LCLHN CEO, Emma Poland:

“On behalf of the LCLHN, I want to extend my­­ sincere condolences to the family of Cody Williams. We have met with the patient’s family three times since his passing, providing an opportunity for family members to raise concerns and ask questions as part of the review process. We will continue to engage with the family and provide them with opportunities for further discussions. A comprehensive clinical review was initiated into Mr Williams death which included notifying and working with the Coroner’s Office. The LHN is committed to making improvements to our services so that we can provide the best possible care. The LHN is committed to continuous improvement to ensure safe, high-quality care for our community. The review of the care provided to Mr Williams has confirmed that established clinical processes were followed, while also identifying opportunities to further strengthen systems and practices as part of routine clinical governance.”

Minister – “My sincere condolences”

Response from Health minister, Blair Boyer:

“Losing a loved one is devastating and I’d like to express my sincere condolences to Ms Armoogum and her family. I have sought advice and a clinical review was undertaken, with the local health network working with the Coroner’s Office as per process. I understand the family has had a number of meetings with senior clinicians, with another meeting scheduled for later this month. I welcome this. It’s my expectation that care received is of the best quality and I will continue to push hard for improvements across the state.”

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 13 May 2026.