Reginald had a tube in his throat to help him breathe, he died wearing hospital gown and socks. His brain was swollen and lungs were congested
42-year-old Reginald Austin died from acute respiratory failure on Christmas Day 2025 in Charlotte, NC. Reginald had a past medical history significant for relapsing polychondritis with tracheostomy dependence due to airway stenosis that required him to wear a medical device around his throat. Follow Charlotte Alerts on Instagram.
Around noon on Christmas day Reginald was found by family members unresponsive on the kitchen floor of their home. Reginald was pulseless and apneic by the time paramedics arrived.
Reginald had no obvious trauma or suspicion for substance use. He had marked obstruction of the large airways including the larynx, trachea, and bronchi along with distorted thickened airway cartilage and soft tissue.
The victim had 90% obstruction and narrowing of his airways. His heart was enlarged and he had chronic high blood
pressure. Reginald’s brain was swollen and his lungs were congested.
Reginald’s cause of death is acute respiratory failure due to acute-on-chronic obstructive airway
disease due to complication of relapsing polychondritis; hypertensive cardiovascular disease is
contributory.
