A Tuscaloosa family is encouraging people to wear masks after their father, Joe Hinton, died of COVID-19. Joe thought COVID-19 was a hoax and didn't believe in wearing masks. He was 78-years-old and a diabetic, so his family urged him to take care of himself during the pandemic.
"I told him, 'Dad I know you're not going to wear a mask, but you should still try to stay as far away from people as you can,' and he just wouldn't do it," Tyler added.
Hinton, an Air Force Veteran, stuck by his beliefs and continued living normally. He developed a rough cough and decided to get tested for COVID-19. His results came back positive June 18th.
"The joke between my brother and me was,' Daddy's not going to stay home for two weeks,' but he promised us that he would," Amy said.
Hinton's symptoms worsened quickly. Although the family urged Hinton to go to the hospital on Father's Day, he refused. Hinton could barely respond to his family Monday morning, so they decided to call him an ambulance around 9 a.m. He died less than three hours later.
Hinton passed away June 22, less than five days after testing positive. His cause of death was respiratory failure caused by COVID-19.
The siblings said COVID-19 is real and their dad's story is a prime example.
"I think that his death should mean something, and it shouldn't be just a senseless tragedy that my family has had to go through. I think that he's up there saying, 'I guess I was wrong,'" Amy said.
Joe Hinton's family said he had a big heart, loved Tuscaloosa and had hopes of watching Alabama Football play in the fall.