The Autism News | English
Colton Robert Rhines
By Millard K. Ives | Daily Commercial
CLERMONT — A 14-year-old East Ridge Middle School student died Friday after choking on a hot dog at lunch.
Colton Robert Rhines was pronounced dead at South Lake Hospital after rescue attempts at the school by officials, EMS workers and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies, according to the sheriff’s office.
The student’s autism presented him with problems in eating food, said family members.
His mother said Monday that despite being autistic, Colton was an outgoing child. Linda Mitchell said her son loved going to school and to the movies, using the computer and singing and dancing to music videos.
And he went to three different churches.
“People would always ask me, ‘Does he ever not smile?’” said Mitchell, still in the middle of making funeral arrangements. “He was always finding humor in everything.”
According to a sheriff’s investigative report, witnesses saw the student coughing and trying to clear his throat in the school’s cafeteria sometime around 11:30 a.m. Friday. A school employee “escorted” Colton to the school clinic area. He was lowered to the floor, where deputies and EMS tried to revive him with chest compressions and other methods in a futile attempt.
At some point, the child stopped breathing and drifted into unconsciousness.
On Wednesday, the school will have Tie Dye Day, in recognition of Colton’s love of the apparel – a process that includes dipping clothing into dye.
“Hopefully, we will have a school full of tie dyes,” said Principal Charles McDaniel, who called Colton “funny and absolutely hilarious. “
Colton was one of five siblings of Mitchell and Darrell Rhines. But Mitchell said Colton was treated like the rest of their children.
“We expected him to do everything for himself,” said Mitchell, who added Colton had problems tying his shoes.
Another problem Colton had was chewing his food. His autism left him with motor and oral skills problems and his “brain and mouth didn’t connect,” Mitchell said.
She questioned how Colton could choke on his food.
“They were supposed to cut up his food,” said Mitchell, shortly after purchasing his burial plot on Monday.
McDaniel wouldn’t comment on the issue and contended some parts of the sheriff’s report were incorrect, including Colton being escorted to the clinic area. He added the incident was still under investigation by the sheriff’s office.
A wake for Colton will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Becker Funeral Home in Clermont; and the funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Family Christian Center in Clermont.
“He was a blessing to everyone who knew him,” said Mitchell. “We’re really going to miss him.”
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