A family and community mourn tonight as complications from a strain of type A flu has claimed the life of a 5-year-old boy in Nederland.

"Cole" Paul Davis was a kindergartner at Langham Elementary.

The Beaumont Health Department has confirmed a Jefferson County 5-year-old has died from H1N1 complications but is refusing to identify the victim.

12 News Reporter Liz McKernan has community reaction to the young boy's death.

"This is every parent's nightmare - to lose a child is unbelievable" said Kim Barnett.

Barnett lives next door to the Davis family who just suffered the loss of their 5-year-old son Colton to the flu.

Staying home with her own young boy sick with H1N1 Barnett can't imagine the pain of losing a child.

"Its heartbreaking to have to go through that - i can't imagine" added Barnett.

Barnett remembers Cole as a fun-loving kid.

"A normal 5-year-old. Active, energetic, I mean, playin and ridin his little four wheeler - he was just a kid" said Barnett.

"We are all deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students" said Langham Elementary Principal Rosetta Morgan.

Morgan says classmates remember playing t-ball with Cole and miss his presence.

"Many of the children would always meet me in the hall and say, Miss Morgan, he never pulls his apple! Its always red! Which means he had wonderful behavior - and all the children loved him" added Morgan.

The Davis family told 12 News Cole had been in the hospital for a month before passing away Monday night of complications from a strain of type A influenza. Barnett says it caught the community off guard.

"You never realize how precious life is till its gone - and it can be taken away so quickly"

In Nederland, Liz McKernan 12 News.