Georgia deputy loses 5-year-old son to COVID-19

DALTON, Ga. — A Georgia deputy and his wife are mourning the loss of their 5-year-old son to COVID-19.

Wyatt Gary Gibson died Friday after a short battle with the illness, family members said.

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Wyatt was the son of Lt. Wes Gibson with the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office and mom Alexis Gibson and brother to a 9-month-old sister.

“There are no words that can be spoken to ease his pain and the pain of his family,” Juan Martinez wrote on Facebook. “Lt. Gibson is a dedicated public servant of Whitfield County that truly cares about our community. He is one of the best of us at the Sheriff’s Office. "

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Family members said the whole family got sick, but only Wyatt ended up having complications, which included a stroke. He was admitted to the hospital with COVID pneumonia early this week.

He died Friday at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, according to an obituary.

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The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover Wyatt’s funeral expenses.

Only three children under age 10 have died of COVID-19 in Georgia, according to the official tally from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Wyatt’s death has not been added to that number, but health officials don’t release updated numbers on the weekend.

Two 7-year-olds, a boy from Chatham County and a girl from Clayton County and a 1-year-old boy from Cobb County with a chronic condition died of the virus, according to the GDPH.

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