#Louisiana teen Christopher Matherne dead of COVID after delayed 911 response

A 17-year-old Louisiana boy died from COVID-19 complications on Friday after he was initially unable to get to the hospital in late August because of damage caused by Hurricane Ida, a report said.

Christopher Matherne and his family were prevented from evacuating from their Houma home due to the severity of the teen’s condition — and when Ida struck on Aug. 29, the 911 lines went down, WSDU reported.

“His health deteriorated within a couple of days,” the boy’s mother, Kristi Matherne, told the news outlet. “We were scared we were going to lose him on the sofa.”

The teen’s parents cared for him, checking his vital signs, in the dreary aftermath of the hurricane that also badly damaged their home.

“It’s been a snowball effect of bad things,” Kristi said. “I never thought it would get to that level.”

Finally, five days later on Sept. 3, the Mathernes got through to 911 and their son was rushed to the hospital.

Christopher was taken to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center before he was transferred to Children’s Hospital New Orleans, the report said.

He spent 24 days in a medically induced coma to give his lungs a chance to heal, but other complications arose, according to a GoFundMe page set up for his family.

During his time in the hospital, the boy received 39 blood and platelet transfusions.