‘He kept you smiling’: Family members remember 13-year-old Georgia boy who died from COVID-19

FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia family is asking for prayers are they mourn the death of a 13-year-old boy who died from COVID-19.

Family members confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that Porter Helms died Tuesday morning after his father found him not breathing.

Floyd County Coroner Gene Proctor said the boy had contracted COVID-19.

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“He was a healthy young man, no health issues that were known,” Proctor said. “We made a determination the boy died of respiratory failure directly related to COVID-19.”

Channel 2′s Matt Johnson spoke to Proctor’s cousin, who described him as a great child.

“Porter was the most humble and funniest person you would ever meet. He kept you smiling even on a bad day,” Rachel Morton said.

The boy was a student at Coosa Middle School in Rome. The school system released a statement to Channel 2 Action News:

“The loss of a child, at any time, under any circumstances, is a tragedy. We are heartbroken that COVID-19 has taken the life of a child. We extend our deepest sympathy to this child’s family and all others who have lost a loved one to this virus.

Because we know this will impact our school community emotionally, we encourage parents to be emotionally sensitive and prepare to offer support to their child or children during this difficult time.”

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