Healthy dad-of-four, 37, dies suddenly after contracting flu while visiting his family at Christmas

A DAD has died of flu after visiting his family this Christmas, highlighting just how dangerous the common virus can be.

Special education teacher Cody Capps was 37 when he passed away in intensive care from complications related to flu.

The "dedicated" husband and father-of-four, from Tennessee, US, was visiting his family in Indiana when he suddenly fell sick.

He tested positive for influenza A and was admitted to the intensive care unit when his condition deteriorated.

He passed away on December 28.

Relatives and friends remembered him on a GoFundMe page, which has been set up to help support his devastated family.

Many were shocked by the sudden death of a man they considered to be "in shape".

Organiser Rikki Crutcher said: "Cody was a dedicated husband, father, a long-time servant leader at Long Hollow Church, and was instrumental in the success of many students in Robertson county."

Patricia Hicks, who donated to the fund, described him as having "the most gentle and kind demeanour".

And Elizabeth Polley, another donator, said: "Shocked and saddened to hear about this."

Justin Smith, a good friend of the dad, told Fox17: "Cody was probably one of the most in shape guys I knew.

"He was 37 years old, but I feel like he still could have played linebacker for a college football team."

At the time of writing, no further details had been shared of his death.

Cody is survived by his wife Daphne, and sons Ezekiel, Forrest, Gideon, and Hawkins.

It comes as cases of flu in the UK and US are spiralling.

The latest NHS data on the flu in the UK suggests there were an average of 942 patients in hospital with it each day in the week to December 24, including 48 in critical care.

The figure is almost six times higher than in November and double the total a fortnight before.

Across the US, approximately a dozen states are now reporting "very high" levels of respiratory activity, including Cody's home state of Tennessee.

Influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by viruses which circulate globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are four types: A, B, C and D. The first two cause seasonal epidemics.

Influenza A is currently the dominant strain in US, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.

The main symptoms include a fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, runny nose, and feeling unwell.

Most people who have the flu recover within a week.

But some people, like young children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems, may be at risk of dying.

In rare cases, the virus can progress into serious conditions, including pneumonia, according to Healthline.

It can also worsen other chronic issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure, which can quickly become life-threatening.

The flu can also cause the brain, heart, or muscles to become inflamed.

This can lead to sepsis, an emergency condition that can be fatal if not immediately treated.