He had overcome a shocking attack in a Casterton pub last year that left him with over 200 stitches to his face and head and was building a new life on the Gold Coast in an effort to start afresh.

But Mr Milton, 26, lost his life last week to an aggressive case of the Epstein-Barr virus, a disease whose onset is rarely fatal.

His older sister Tanya Milton told The Standard that Joel, a former Hamilton resident, was a fun-loving man who adored his family.

"He was pretty happy-go-lucky. He lived for his kids," she said.

Her brother had three children, daughters aged eight and six and a son born in April this year.

After a 10-year stint working at carnivals and regional shows, he'd realised a long-held dream of becoming a handyman.

"He was so excited and happy that he was actually finally settling down," Ms Milton said.

"He was doing all the normal things that you'd want to do in your life."

The decline in Mr Milton's health was sudden and severe.

He was taken to the Gold Coast Hospital on November 9 after complaining of poor eyesight and disorientation, with doctors immediately starting tests including a lumbar puncture.

Next came an induced coma that aimed to reduce swelling in his brain. He woke two days later and began to talk of leaving hospital, but the improvement was brief. A seizure on November 12 prompted another coma.

He did not wake again. Adrenaline administered by doctors was the only way to preserve blood flow to his vital organs, a measure taken as relatives from across Australia rushed to his bedside.

"I got up there (last) Monday morning and spent the final 24 hours with him," Ms Milton said. "We turned off the life support on November 17."

Her anguish has been compounded by the short space between his 2008 injury and death.

Ms Milton said it was not known if the onset of the disease was related to his injuries.