A 13-year-old Queensland boy has died after suffering critical head injuries in an e-scooter crash in the Wide Bay-Burnett town of Childers, with his devastated parents remembering him as a warm, funny and deeply caring "old soul" whose generosity of spirit will continue through organ donation.

Blayde Pettitt was fatally injured on August 26 in a single-vehicle e-scooter crash on Macrossan Street in Childers, shortly after 6pm. Emergency crews responded to the scene, where CPR was performed before Blayde was airlifted to the Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane in a critical condition. He passed away four days later, on August 30, surrounded by family and loved ones.

A boy who 'lit up every room'

In an emotional statement, Blayde's parents described the heartbreak of losing their "little soldier" — a boy they say had the biggest heart and a laugh that could fill any room.

"Blayde had the biggest heart. He was kind, funny, and wise beyond his years. An old soul, people would say," his parents said. "He was the sweetest boy who loved and cared for everyone, and he truly loved living life."

His mother described the terrifying speed at which the tragedy unfolded. "One minute my boy was safe at home, the next he had walked to Macca's. Less than 20 minutes later he was involved in a serious accident," she said. "He had borrowed his friend's scooter and he never came home. My life will never be the same without him."

A family friend who set up a fundraising page to support the family described Blayde as "the life of the party" who came from a family of motorbike riders and had grown up around bikes. According to the fundraiser, Blayde had been at McDonald's with friends when an older boy allegedly offered him a turn on a modified e-scooter — one described as "way too powerful for a child so young."

The hardest decision: Choosing organ donation

Amid their grief, Blayde's parents made the extraordinarily difficult decision to donate their son's organs — a choice they say reflects exactly who Blayde was in life.

"I wasn't able to save my son's life and we had to make the hardest decision of our life, but our boy's kindness lives on," they said. "Through organ donation, Blayde is still caring for others, just like he always did. My son still lives on through us and them."

The family expressed deep gratitude to everyone who responded in the aftermath of the crash — from emergency services and police on the ground in Childers, to the medical staff at Queensland Children's Hospital who fought to save him. "You all went beyond to help him," they said.

Community rallies behind grieving family

A GoFundMe campaign launched by family friend Kelly Smith has sought to ease the financial strain on Blayde's family as they prepare to farewell their son. The fundraiser noted that Blayde's sudden death had left the family "absolutely heartbroken" and that one less burden they should face is the unexpected cost of laying him to rest.

"No parent should ever have to bury their child," his mother said. "He is my baby, my beautiful boy, and my heart will forever have a piece missing."

The crash serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by modified or high-powered e-scooters in the hands of young riders. As fatal crashes involving young people continue to occur across the country, community calls for greater awareness around vehicle safety and supervision are likely to grow louder in the wake of Blayde's death.

Blayde Pettitt was 13 years old. He is survived by his parents and all those whose lives he touched in his short but clearly luminous time on earth.