15-Year-Old Dies Unexpectedly Of COVID-19 Complications, Mother Says Virus Is 'No Joke'

KEY POINTS

The teenager's mother said her son got sick on Christmas Day
He eventually tested positive for COVID-19
On Tuesday, he was rushed to a hospital where he died of COVID-19 complications

The mother of a 15-year-old Massachusetts boy, who died unexpectedly of complications from COVID-19, has been warning people the disease is "no joke."

Media reports said Thursday the teenager, identified as a Gloucester High School student named Kurt Ryan, died Tuesday. A GoFundMe page launched to help the family pay for funeral expenses stated the sophomore was known for his reddish-blonde afro, sense of humor and love of video games.

“He was a video gamer at heart. That’s what he loved,” older sister Sally Lambert said during a phone interview along with Kurt’s parents, Tammy and Dan Ryan, according to Gloucester Times. “He knew everything about gaming and computers, he was just fabulous with them and he was top of his classes in school.”

As the COVID-19 cases have seen a huge spike across the globe since the new Omicron variant was detected, Kurt's mother urged people to take care of themselves. “It’s no joke,” she said of COVID-19. Media reports said Kurt was not infected by the Omicron variant.

Kurt's mother told local media her son got sick on Christmas Day.

“He was OK, though, manageable,” she said. He eventually tested positive for COVID-19. “We were told to just wait it out,” she said, adding she felt something was not right Tuesday, so she called 911.

Kurt was taken to Addison Gilbert Hospital, where he died.

Gloucester Schools Superintendent Ben Lummis confirmed that the Ryan family informed school officials Kurt's death was the result of complications from COVID-19.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, and we have asked for everyone’s compassion and understanding for their privacy as they - and our community - mourn this tragic loss,” Lummis said in a statement, according to the Boston Globe. “While our school is saddened and shaken by this news, Gloucester is a resilient and caring community that will support the family and their loved ones. We are making resources available for students, families, teachers, and staff as they process this unexpected tragedy.”

COVID-19 infections in the United States are at their peak, with the country reporting more than 500,000 new infections every day. On Monday, the country reported over 1 million COVID-19 cases amid rapid spread of the Omicron variant.