YouTube sensation Chelsea Lee James dies

Australian teenager and YouTube sensation Chelsea Lee James has died after a decade-long battle with cancer.

Singer Beyonce (R) and cancer patient Chelsea Lee James

Australian YouTube sensation Chelsea Lee James (L) has died after a decade-long battle with cancer. (AAP)

The Australian girl who became a YouTube sensation after music superstar Beyonce called her on stage to sing Halo has died following a decade long battle with cancer.

Chelsea Lee James from Newcastle, North of Sydney, died on Monday night, just three months shy of her 16th birthday.

Her Aunt, Lisa Sams, confirmed her death to News Corp Australia on Tuesday.

She says Chelsea enjoyed a special Easter Sunday with her mum at the Crowne Plaza before her condition deteriorated and she was rushed to John Hunter Children's hospital on Monday.

Chelsea became a internet sensation in 2009 when Beyonce invited her on stage during her concert at Sydney Acer Arena.

There wasn't a dry eye in the arena when the pair sang the hit song Halo to close the concert.

"It was amazing. It was breathtaking actually ... I couldn't say a word I was just breathless, Chelsea told the Nine Network the day after the concert.

"I wasn't expecting it to happen. I don't no how she picked me out of the crowd.

"It was just like nothing else mattered in the world it was just me there with Beyonce," she said.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP

Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world