A Tennessee father-to-be died from an allergic reaction to a wasp sting just weeks before the birth of his second son.
Matt Johnson, 40, was checking his duck decoy in a remote part of West Memphis when the incident occurred.
He managed to administer his EpiPen and call an ambulance before walking somewhere to be picked up.
However, when emergency services arrived, he was already unconscious and later died.
The devoted father developed an allergy to wasps as an adult, his friend Patrick Weddling said 6News.
Expectant father Matt Johnson died weeks before the birth of his second son after an allergic reaction to a wasp sting
“He always had his EpiPen with him, and he’s a big beast of a guy, you know. So, it’s crazy that a bug bite could do something like that,” Wredling said.
“They were in the middle of nowhere, so they were trying to get somewhere where they could meet the ambulance. Luckily they found them, but I think he was unconscious when he got into the ambulance.”
He has a now GoFundMe to cover expenses for his wife Ashton and their children Rhett, three, and their unborn son Cole, due in three weeks.
“Matt was loved by so many people because he had a big heart and made friends with everyone he met,” Weddling said.
“His personality would light up a room. He loved Ashton and Rhett so much and was the best dad.
“His bond with Rhett was unmatched, aside from their matching outfits.”
His neighbor Stephanie White also paid tribute to the late father
Johnson, 40, was checking his duck hut in a remote part of West Memphis when the incident occurred. He is survived by his wife Ashton, son Rhett and his unborn child Cole
Johnson developed an allergy to wasp stings as an adult and carried an EpiPen, but it wasn’t enough to save him
“Matt was one of the best! He made our crew complete and we really don’t know how we would live without him,” she said.
He was a great neighbor and friend […] He was a big teddy bear to my child and he will be truly missed.’
Johnson was a co-owner of the trucking company Southern Xpress. His loved ones planned to hold a celebration of his life after Cole’s birth.
So far, the fundraiser has raised more than $30,000 in donations.
“It’s amazing. People are just so generous and he would be the first to donate to something like that himself,” Weddling added.
“So I think that these kinds of things come back when you treat people well and support them your whole life, it comes back. I’m not surprised at all.”