Tuscaloosa Father, 25, Dies After Monthlong COVID-19 Battle

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A young family is mourning the loss of a father after Austin Benton, 25, died Tuesday morning at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa after a nearly monthlong hospital battle with COVID-19.

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A family member confirmed the heartbreaking news to Patch Tuesday afternoon. Patch readers will recall our reporting on the plight of Benton's family earlier this month, as they are now faced with the loss of a loved one on top of massive medical bills.

As Patch previously reported, Benton was first hospitalized at DCH Regional Medical Center on Aug. 30 and had been on a ventilator since at least Sept. 10. According to his family, he had not been vaccinated, but had taken all the appropriate measures to isolate before his condition forced him to seek inpatient hospital care.

A father of two daughters, ages 1 and 5, with another baby on the way, Benton's family has already received medical bills in excess of $3,000 and now will be faced with funeral expenses.

Benton's sister, Centreville resident Kerri Cooksey, started a GoFundMe drive to raise $5,000 for the young family after Benton was first hospitalized, and confirmed to Patch that the online fundraising effort was still available for those wishing to donate.

The last month has been one of the deadliest of the pandemic for Tuscaloosa, as 43 people have died at DCH Regional Medical Center over the last two weeks, alone.

Benton's age also underscores another disturbing trend that is evident just in our reporting from the past month, as his death marks the fourth person under the age of 45 we have written about dying from COVID-19 since Sept. 9. That's not including potential others whose stories have not become as public, with public health officials pointing out the acute impacts to those in an age range previously thought vulnerable to infections requiring inpatient treatment.

Others in mourning ...

• ALEA Trooper, Northport Resident Dies After COVID-19 Battle
• Northport Mother, 41, Dies After Documenting COVID-19 Experience
• GoFundMe For Jalapeño's Server, Single Mom Who Died Of COVID-19

To donate to the Benton family, click here.

Funeral arrangements for Benton have not been announced at this time.

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