A 13-year-old Gaffney student has died of complications from the flu, according to Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler. Arden Bradley died at Atrium Health-Cleveland hospital in Shelby, North Carolina. She was a student at Gaffney Middle School, Fowler said. Bradley's grandfather, Don Johnson, told WYFF News 4's Joe Ripley that Arden got sick on Jan. 27 and was taken to the hospital Wednesday where she was diagnosed with type A flu then bilateral pneumonia. He said Arden died Friday. “It was quick," Johnson said. "It was an unbelievably gruesome thing to watch as they tried to resuscitate her. But her family was there. The people who loved her were there with her.”Johnson said he was not aware of any other pre-existing conditions. “Don’t be cavalier with this thing called the flu,” Johnson said. "Hug your babies every chance you get. Hug that baby because you don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring.” Bradley was born in Shelby, North Carolina. "She loved her family, K-POP music and especially BTS, painting, photography, animals and nutcrackers," her obituary said. Bradley's funeral was held Monday. According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, there had been 51 flu deaths this season before Arden's. Her passing also marked the first juvenile flu death this season, according to DHEC.Memorials may be made to: Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1886, Gaffney, SC 29342.Johnson said Arden would help him deliver Meals on Wheels sometimes.

A 13-year-old Gaffney student has died of complications from the flu, according to Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler.

Arden Bradley died at Atrium Health-Cleveland hospital in Shelby, North Carolina.


She was a student at Gaffney Middle School, Fowler said.

Bradley's grandfather, Don Johnson, told WYFF News 4's Joe Ripley that Arden got sick on Jan. 27 and was taken to the hospital Wednesday where she was diagnosed with type A flu then bilateral pneumonia. He said Arden died Friday.

“It was quick," Johnson said. "It was an unbelievably gruesome thing to watch as they tried to resuscitate her. But her family was there. The people who loved her were there with her.”

Johnson said he was not aware of any other pre-existing conditions.

“Don’t be cavalier with this thing called the flu,” Johnson said. "Hug your babies every chance you get. Hug that baby because you don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring.”

Bradley was born in Shelby, North Carolina.

Arden Bradley

"She loved her family, K-POP music and especially BTS, painting, photography, animals and nutcrackers," her obituary said.



Bradley's funeral was held Monday.

According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, there had been 51 flu deaths this season before Arden's. Her passing also marked the first juvenile flu death this season, according to DHEC.

Memorials may be made to: Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 1886, Gaffney, SC 29342.

Johnson said Arden would help him deliver Meals on Wheels sometimes.