Elyse Miller-Kennedy
Elyse suffered from critical head and chest injuries after a vehicle driven by two French tourists driving on the wrong side of the road near Dimbulah hit the year 12 student’s car head-on. Prayers for Elise

Many Queenslanders are mourning the death on Wednesday of Elyse Miller-Kennedy, a finalist in the Miss Australia World beauty pageant who figured in a car collision on Aug 3. She lost her one-week battle for life on Aug 10 at the Townsville Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

SBS reports that Elyse was surrounded by family and friends when she died. News of her death was made public by Katrina Porter, a family friend who set up a fundraising campaign to help the family defray the cost of the 19-year-old beauty queen’s hospitalisation.

Elyse suffered from critical head and chest injuries after a vehicle driven by two French tourists driving on the wrong side of the road near Dimbulah hit the year 12 student’s car head-on. The Independent reports that Elyse was left trapped in her car for two hours after the crash.

Porter says the family is overwhelmed by the show of support from the community which sent thousands of messages and well wishes from Australia and overseas. “Elyse’s family is absolutely humbled and by the public’s generosity and have no words to explain their astonishment and gratitude. Also thanks to all medical staff, police and rescue services involved,” she adds.

Variety Australia, a fundraising partner of Miss Australia World, posted a tribute of Elyse on its Facebook page. “Elyse will always be remembered for her beautiful soul, charismatic charm and kind heart. Elyse’s inner beauty truly exemplified her outer,” reads the tribute.

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