Just two weeks after finishing his year 12 exams, Melbourne student Matthew Wilkins has died of meningococcal disease.
The Marcellin College student's death on Saturday has left his school community in shock, and his family devastated.
Matthew, 18, was admitted to the Austin Hospital at 9am with symptoms including headache, abdominal pain and vomiting.
He died hours later, his school said.
Younger brother James Wilkins was supposed to be celebrating his own birthday on Saturday but instead had to contemplate life without his sibling.
"Today on my birthday we r devastated to tell you all of the passing of my brother Matthew from a shocking infection that took his life over one day ending this afternoon," he posted on Facebook on Saturday.
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the diagnosis on Tuesday, but said it was an "isolated case".
Marcellin College has been posting tributes to Matthew all week, opening its chapel all day on Monday and gathering outside the school in a mass prayer.
The class of 2016 have also been invited to attend a mass on Thursday to pay tribute to their classmate, the college said on its Twitter account.
Marcellin College principal Mark Murphy described Matthew as a calm and mature boy who was very diligent in his studies.
"He had a smile for all those he encountered," Mr Murphy said in a school statement on Sunday.
"He was a person of great humility who never sought the limelight for his achievements and who loved being a student of Marcellin College."
He also assured students and families that there was no threat of infection from Matthew's case.
"We informed the hospital that Matthew completed his final VCAA examination on 9 November," he said.
"As this is the last known visit to the college, the registrar stated there is no risk to members of our community."
There have been 67 cases of meningococcal infection in Victoria this year, the health department says.
That is compared to 54 cases this time last year.
Meningococcal illness can rapidly overwhelm its victims and can be very difficult to diagnose.
It is a bacterial infection that is spread by coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing drinks.
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