Latest news with #PeterBlythe


Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Boy, 5, died after ‘being exposed to cow's milk from bottle at school' in horror allergic reaction, inquest rules
Dad Peter Blythe recalled the horror of finding his son unconscious on the floor ALLERGY TRAGEDY Boy, 5, died after 'being exposed to cow's milk from bottle at school' in horror allergic reaction, inquest rules A FIVE-year-old boy died after being exposed to cow's milk from his bottle at school, an inquest ruled. Benedict Blythe, who was in his first year at Barnack Primary School in Stamford, Lincolnshire, was allergic to milk, eggs and some nuts. 9 Benedict Blythe, five, tragically died on December 1 2021 Credit: PA 9 The youngster suffered fatal anaphylaxis after being exposed to cow's milk Credit: PA 9 Heartbroken parents Helen and Peter Blythe spokes outside the inquest today Credit: PA A jury heard the reception pupil was "extremely bright" and "thriving" in school. The youngster tragically died from food-induced anaphylaxis on December 1, 2021. He had been kept home the day before, as he had been sick through the night. However, Benedict went to school as normal the day he passed, where he ate a biscuit from home. The five-year-old, who also had chronic asthma, was offered oat milk by a teacher but refused to drink it, the inquest at Peterborough Town Hall previously heard. But his parents were called to pick him up after he vomited and he later "collapsed" after being sick for a second time. Dad Peter Blythe recalled the horror of finding his son unconscious on the floor with staff frantically trying to revive him. 'Benedict was dying in front of us and I could not believe what was happening,' Peter said during a previous inquest hearing. The retired RAF senior aircraftsman immediately began CPR but struggled to clear mucus blocking Benedict's airway. Music teacher Dave Read, who was working outside the reception class at the time, saw Peter enter the room and then heard him yell. A Mother's Fight: Lily's Final Moments He stepped in to help as he was first aid trained. 'It seemed the right decision to take over CPR, as Mr Blythe was crying. But he was not in any way doing a bad job,' Dave said. 'Everyone was working together to do the right thing. At the time, the CPR felt like it was working.' An adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) was administered by a first aid-trained teaching assistant but Benedict was "not responding" before CPR was attempted for 15 minutes. 9 The reception pupil had been sick the day before his death Credit: PA 9 The jury concluded Benedict's usual allergy plan hadn't been followed the day of his death Credit: PA 9 The five-year-old was described as "extremely bright" and "thriving" in school Credit: PA Benedict's mother Helen got there just two minutes later, at the same time as an air ambulance. Helen told the inquest jury that vomiting was "always" the first symptom of his allergic reactions, but "how it played out after that varied". She said the youngster was "well aware" of his allergic reactions and had woken up "as normal and in good health" that morning. He was taken to Peterborough City Hospital but sadly pronounced dead shortly before 1pm. Today, the foreperson of the jury at Peterborough Town Hall said: "We deem the probable source of the allergen that caused the fatal anaphylaxis is the ingestion of cow's milk protein, most probably from his own receptacle during break time." Speaking after the conclusion of the inquest, mum Helen said: "Three and a half years ago, we lost our son. Benedict died in a place where he should have been safe - his school. "Benedict's death was preventable and was caused by a cascade of failures -individual, institutional, and systemic." The inquest jury found contributing factors to the reception pupil's death included a delay in administering his adrenaline. They also concluded there was potential for cross-contamination of milks. And, not all staff were aware of Benedicts allergy plan. Jurors highlighted how lessons should have been learnt after the youngster suffered an allergic reaction to pizza at the school in October. They recorded the conclusion of his death as "accidental exposure to an allergen, cow's milk protein, causing fatal anaphylaxis". Dr Shuaib Nasser, a consultant in asthma and allergy, confirmed a "small amount" of cow's milk most likely caused the fatal anaphylactic reaction. But coroner Elizabeth Gray instructed the jury the allergic reaction could not have been caused by the biscuit Benedict ate the morning of his death, nor the dairy free chocolate or breakfast. The signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis + what to do SYMPTOMS of an allergy usually occur within minutes of contact with with the offending food or trigger, but they can also come on up to one hour later. Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life threatening. In some cases, anaphylaxis symptoms lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal so it's important to know how to recognise them and act quickly. Mild to moderate symptoms include: Itchy mouth, tongue and throat Swelling of lips, around the eyes or face Red raised itchy rash (often called nettle rash, hives or urticaria) Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea Runny nose and sneezing Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Swelling of your throat and tongue Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing Feeling tired or confused Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting Skin that feels cold to the touch Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency. Follow these steps if you think you or someone you're with is having an anaphylactic reaction: Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injector. Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction. Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you're struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you're pregnant, lie on your left side). If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it's still in the skin. If your symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector. Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better. Sources: Allergy UK, NHS No traces of cow milk were found after tests on each of these food items. The jury was told Benedict's oat milk was provided to the school by his parents, and it was stored in a separate fridge. His class teacher, Jenny Brass, spoke at the inquest and said she would not have been able to mix up the milks. But the jury concluded the school's routine had not been carried out on the day of Benedict's death. They found his milk was poured into his cup in the staff room, where the separate fridge was kept, rather than in the classroom and given "directly" to him. The Benedict Blythe Foundation was set up in the five-year-old's memory. The Allergy Team and the Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA) also launched the school's allergy code last year. 'REAL ACCOUNTABILITY' Speaking outside Peterborough Town Hall after the inquest concluded, Mrs Blythe said: "There were critical failings from the very beginning. "The investigation at the time was inadequate as the evidence needed to establish how and why he died was never obtained. "Because of that, precious time was lost - and with it, opportunities to understand what happened to our son. "No more children should die at school because of an allergy. "We demand change. We call on this government to protect our children with Benedict's Law, making it mandatory to have an allergy policy in every school, staff allergy training including understanding allergies, how to manage them and identify signs of a reaction, and respond quickly in an emergency, and spare adrenaline allergy pens in every school. "Proper oversight. Real accountability. Immediate action. We owe that to every child." This comes after a traumatised mum told how her allergic son texted a picture of the snack he was enjoying before his phone went silent forever. George Cadman-Ithell sent a haunting message to his mum, Louise Cadman, with a picture of the cured sausages and wrote "these are nice". But just three minutes later, the 25-year-old sent a panicked text telling how the snack contained walnuts. The young man ran home from the shops in just under 10 minutes, and husband Joe Nolan had administered an EpiPen. But tragically George went into cardiac arrest and his brain was starved of oxygen for 26 minutes, causing severe brain damage. He remains in a vegetative state at a rehabilitation unit at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, North West London. Elsewhere, a 12-year-old schoolgirl died suddenly after drinking a milkshake and her heartbroken family paid tribute. Mia Shay St Hilaire suffered a severe allergic reaction after visiting Pop Inn Café, in Bermondsey, London, with her aunt and sister in August 2023. Natasha's Law By Ben Griffiths THE family of an allergy sufferer who died after eating a poorly-labelled Pret sandwich on a BA jet have told how they have forgiven the high street giant. Grieving Nad and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, whose daughter Natasha died in 2016, have even praised the sandwich chain for leading the way in implementing new packaging rules. Natasha's Law - named after the 15-year-old - requires businesses to list every ingredient on pre-packaged food. In an exclusive interview, the family spoke of their "great pride" at getting the historic new regulations in place. They mean an item like the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette, which Natasha died after eating, will now have to list all 34 ingredients - instead of the THREE it displayed five years ago. Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Tanya, who with Nad has won an OBE for her work in getting the law passed, said: "I know that Natasha would be ever so pleased this law is coming into force and we've managed to get it passed. "You can't do anything if you are filled with hate so we have forgiven Pret. It doesn't make up for the fact she is not here now but Pret have actually led the way on changing their packaging. "They've spent millions getting their packaging in line and educating staff on allergies. "The new law means tens of millions of sandwiches across the UK will now have to detail everything it contains from the small trace of ingredients." Natasha was on her way to Nice, in France, for a summer holiday with Nad and her best friend Bethany Holloway in July 2016 when she bought the baguette from Pret a Manger at Heathrow Airport. It contained hidden sesame seeds, something she was allergic to but the ingredient was not labelled on the packet. Shortly after take-off, Natasha had a reaction. Nad rushed her to the toilet and gave her two shots of adrenaline from her EpiPens which he expected would fight off the reaction. Her last words were 'I can't breathe, I'm suffocating, help me Daddy', before she suffered a fatal heart attack. An inquest in 2018 into Natasha's death blasted Pret for its 'inadequate' labelling and fault in Natasha's death, making the company vow to make a 'meaningful change'. Nad and Tanya launch their mission to get a law changed after the inquest. It now means any fresh item prepared on the premises of sale will now have to list every ingredient it contains. To visit the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation go to 9 The inquest jury found contributing factors to the reception pupil's death included a delay in administering his adrenaline Credit: PA 9 The Benedict Blythe Foundation was set up in the five-year-old's memory Credit: PA


The Sun
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Boy, 5, died after ‘being exposed to cow's milk from bottle at school' in horror allergic reaction, inquest rules
A FIVE-year-old boy died after being exposed to cow's milk from his bottle at school, an inquest ruled. Benedict Blythe, who was in his first year at Barnack Primary School in Stamford, Lincolnshire, was allergic to milk, eggs and some nuts. 9 9 9 A jury heard the reception pupil was "extremely bright" and "thriving" in school. The youngster tragically died from food-induced anaphylaxis on December 1, 2021. He had been kept home the day before, as he had been sick through the night. However, Benedict went to school as normal the day he passed, where he ate a biscuit from home. The five-year-old, who also had chronic asthma, was offered oat milk by a teacher but refused to drink it, the inquest at Peterborough Town Hall previously heard. But his parents were called to pick him up after he vomited and he later "collapsed" after being sick for a second time. Dad Peter Blythe recalled the horror of finding his son unconscious on the floor with staff frantically trying to revive him. 'Benedict was dying in front of us and I could not believe what was happening,' Peter said during a previous inquest hearing. The retired RAF senior aircraftsman immediately began CPR but struggled to clear mucus blocking Benedict's airway. Music teacher Dave Read, who was working outside the reception class at the time, saw Peter enter the room and then heard him yell. He stepped in to help as he was first aid trained. 'It seemed the right decision to take over CPR, as Mr Blythe was crying. But he was not in any way doing a bad job,' Dave said. 'Everyone was working together to do the right thing. At the time, the CPR felt like it was working.' An adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) was administered by a first aid-trained teaching assistant but Benedict was "not responding" before CPR was attempted for 15 minutes. 9 9 Benedict's mother Helen got there just two minutes later, at the same time as an air ambulance. Helen told the inquest jury that vomiting was "always" the first symptom of his allergic reactions, but "how it played out after that varied". She said the youngster was "well aware" of his allergic reactions and had woken up "as normal and in good health" that morning. He was taken to Peterborough City Hospital but sadly pronounced dead shortly before 1pm. Today, the foreperson of the jury at Peterborough Town Hall said: "We deem the probable source of the allergen that caused the fatal anaphylaxis is the ingestion of cow's milk protein, most probably from his own receptacle during break time." Speaking after the conclusion of the inquest, mum Helen said: "Three and a half years ago, we lost our son. Benedict died in a place where he should have been safe - his school. "Benedict's death was preventable and was caused by a cascade of failures -individual, institutional, and systemic." The inquest jury found contributing factors to the reception pupil's death included a delay in administering his adrenaline. They also concluded there was potential for cross-contamination of milks. And, not all staff were aware of Benedicts allergy plan. Jurors highlighted how lessons should have been learnt after the youngster suffered an allergic reaction to pizza at the school in October. They recorded the conclusion of his death as "accidental exposure to an allergen, cow's milk protein, causing fatal anaphylaxis". Dr Shuaib Nasser, a consultant in asthma and allergy, confirmed a "small amount" of cow's milk most likely caused the fatal anaphylactic reaction. But coroner Elizabeth Gray instructed the jury the allergic reaction could not have been caused by the biscuit Benedict ate the morning of his death, nor the dairy free chocolate or breakfast. The signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis + what to do SYMPTOMS of an allergy usually occur within minutes of contact with with the offending food or trigger, but they can also come on up to one hour later. Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life threatening. In some cases, anaphylaxis symptoms lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal so it's important to know how to recognise them and act quickly. Mild to moderate symptoms include: Itchy mouth, tongue and throat Swelling of lips, around the eyes or face Red raised itchy rash (often called nettle rash, hives or urticaria) Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea Runny nose and sneezing Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Swelling of your throat and tongue Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing Feeling tired or confused Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting Skin that feels cold to the touch Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency. Follow these steps if you think you or someone you're with is having an anaphylactic reaction: Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injector. Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction. Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you're struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you're pregnant, lie on your left side). If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it's still in the skin. If your symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector. Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better. Sources: Allergy UK, NHS No traces of cow milk were found after tests on each of these food items. The jury was told Benedict's oat milk was provided to the school by his parents, and it was stored in a separate fridge. His class teacher, Jenny Brass, spoke at the inquest and said she would not have been able to mix up the milks. But the jury concluded the school's routine had not been carried out on the day of Benedict's death. They found his milk was poured into his cup in the staff room, where the separate fridge was kept, rather than in the classroom and given "directly" to him. The Benedict Blythe Foundation was set up in the five-year-old's memory. The Allergy Team and the Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA) also launched the school's allergy code last year. 'REAL ACCOUNTABILITY' Speaking outside Peterborough Town Hall after the inquest concluded, Mrs Blythe said: "There were critical failings from the very beginning. "The investigation at the time was inadequate as the evidence needed to establish how and why he died was never obtained. "Because of that, precious time was lost - and with it, opportunities to understand what happened to our son. "No more children should die at school because of an allergy. "We demand change. We call on this government to protect our children with Benedict's Law, making it mandatory to have an allergy policy in every school, staff allergy training including understanding allergies, how to manage them and identify signs of a reaction, and respond quickly in an emergency, and spare adrenaline allergy pens in every school. "Proper oversight. Real accountability. Immediate action. We owe that to every child." This comes after a traumatised mum told how her allergic son texted a picture of the snack he was enjoying before his phone went silent forever. George Cadman-Ithell sent a haunting message to his mum, Louise Cadman, with a picture of the cured sausages and wrote "these are nice". But just three minutes later, the 25-year-old sent a panicked text telling how the snack contained walnuts. The young man ran home from the shops in just under 10 minutes, and husband Joe Nolan had administered an EpiPen. But tragically George went into cardiac arrest and his brain was starved of oxygen for 26 minutes, causing severe brain damage. He remains in a vegetative state at a rehabilitation unit at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, North West London. Elsewhere, a 12-year-old schoolgirl died suddenly after drinking a milkshake and her heartbroken family paid tribute. Mia Shay St Hilaire suffered a severe allergic reaction after visiting Pop Inn Café, in Bermondsey, London, with her aunt and sister in August 2023. Natasha's Law By Ben Griffiths THE family of an allergy sufferer who died after eating a poorly-labelled Pret sandwich on a BA jet have told how they have forgiven the high street giant. Grieving Nad and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, whose daughter Natasha died in 2016, have even praised the sandwich chain for leading the way in implementing new packaging rules. Natasha's Law - named after the 15-year-old - requires businesses to list every ingredient on pre-packaged food. In an exclusive interview, the family spoke of their "great pride" at getting the historic new regulations in place. They mean an item like the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette, which Natasha died after eating, will now have to list all 34 ingredients - instead of the THREE it displayed five years ago. Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Tanya, who with Nad has won an OBE for her work in getting the law passed, said: "I know that Natasha would be ever so pleased this law is coming into force and we've managed to get it passed. "You can't do anything if you are filled with hate so we have forgiven Pret. It doesn't make up for the fact she is not here now but Pret have actually led the way on changing their packaging. "They've spent millions getting their packaging in line and educating staff on allergies. "The new law means tens of millions of sandwiches across the UK will now have to detail everything it contains from the small trace of ingredients." Natasha was on her way to Nice, in France, for a summer holiday with Nad and her best friend Bethany Holloway in July 2016 when she bought the baguette from Pret a Manger at Heathrow Airport. It contained hidden sesame seeds, something she was allergic to but the ingredient was not labelled on the packet. Shortly after take-off, Natasha had a reaction. Nad rushed her to the toilet and gave her two shots of adrenaline from her EpiPens which he expected would fight off the reaction. Her last words were 'I can't breathe, I'm suffocating, help me Daddy', before she suffered a fatal heart attack. An inquest in 2018 into Natasha's death blasted Pret for its 'inadequate' labelling and fault in Natasha's death, making the company vow to make a 'meaningful change'. Nad and Tanya launch their mission to get a law changed after the inquest. It now means any fresh item prepared on the premises of sale will now have to list every ingredient it contains. To visit the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation go to 9 9 9


BBC News
07-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Benedict Blythe inquest jury hears 999 call before allergy death
The dying moments of a five-year old boy receiving CPR from his father during a 999 call has been played out to an inquest Blythe, from Stamford, Lincolnshire, was twice sick and collapsed at Barnack Primary School in December 2021. He was pronounced dead in hospital a short while later.A teacher could be heard on the call saying Benedict had turned "blue at the mouth" and was "unconscious" before a handler gave instructions in administering CPR, which was given by his father, Peter inquest into his death at Peterborough Town Hall earlier heard Benedict had an allergic reaction to food before he was treated with an EpiPen prior to the call. The inquest was told Benedict was in and out of consciousness and had stopped breathing and responding before CPR instructions were relayed to the father, during which time there were moments Benedict was "gurgling". The jury heard paramedics arrived at the scene about 20 minutes later after they "got stuck at a railway crossing". The team then took over chest compressions and continued treating Benedict in the ambulance on route to coroner Elizabeth Gray was previously told the five-year-old was pronounced dead at 12:57 in Peterborough City had asthma and a number of allergies, including to milk and eggs. He died due to food-induced inquest also heard evidence by Alison Ismail, the director of special educational needs and disability and alternative provision at the Department for was asked by a legal representative on the possibility of preventing future deaths and said the government was "committed" to reviewing all statutory and non-statutory guidance on how schools supported children with specific medical inquest, which started on 30 June, previously heard that milk was Benedict's only allergy that could have caused a potentially fatal vomited and developed breathing problems when he ingested cow's milk protein, the inquest was heard Benedict had been kept off school on 30 November after being sick the night before. He went back on 1 December after his mother Helen, who gave evidence last week, said he "was fine and didn't appear to be unwell".That day, while outside with other children during morning break, Benedict ate a gingerbread biscuit he had taken with him from home, the inquest had then returned to the classroom, where he was offered oat milk but was said to have refused fell ill shortly after that before his death from food-induced Wednesday, head teacher Amy Jones explained that Benedict's oat milk was in a labelled carton provided by his parents and kept in a staff was another child in the class who had lactose-free milk, and his milk was kept in the same fridge as Benedict' Thursday, consultant Dr Shuaib Nasser was asked whether, if the milk lids had been swapped, it would have been enough to cause an allergic reaction, to which he replied: "It's unlikely that the lid was the source of the contamination."The inquest continues. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.


Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Father desperately tried to save life of son, five, when he suffered fatal allergic reaction after eating biscuit at school, inquest hears
A father desperately tried to save his five-year-old son's life as he suffered a fatal allergic reaction after eating a biscuit at school, an inquest has been told. Peter Blythe arrived at Barnack Primary, in Stamford, Lincolnshire, to discover his son Benedict unconscious on the floor and staff frantically trying to revive him. He has now been giving evidence at the inquest, describing at Peterborough Town Hall his efforts to help. The tragedy unfolded on December 1 2021 when Benedict, who was allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, sesame and chickpeas, vomited during breaktime. Mr Blythe said: 'Benedict was dying in front of us and I could not believe what was happening.' The retired RAF senior aircraftsman immediately began CPR but struggled to clear mucus blocking Benedict's airway. Music teacher Dave Read, who was working outside the reception class at the time, saw Mr Blythe enter the room and then heard him yell - then stepped in to assist, having been trained in first aid. Mr Read said: 'It seemed the right decision to take over CPR, as Mr Blythe was crying - but he was not in any way doing a bad job. 'Everyone was working together to do the right thing. At the time, the CPR felt like it was working.' Mr Blythe and school staff continued to perform CPR for between 10 and 15 minutes before paramedics arrived. Benedict's mother Helen got there just two minutes later, at the same time as an air ambulance. The child was taken to Peterborough City Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly before 1pm on the day he was taken ill. Benedict had not previously shown signs of an allergic reaction and teaching assistant Sophie Brown said she assumed the sickness that day was related to an illness earlier in the week, the inquest has heard. She did not recall him asking for his blue asthma inhaler - adding that if he had, then she would have taken it as a sign he was having an allergic reaction and fetched his epi-pens immediately. Benedict vomited for a second time 10 minutes later and his class teacher Jenny Brass took him outside to get some fresh air - and it was at this point he collapsed. Ms Brown told the inquest: 'I heard Jenny shouting my name and she was carrying Benedict inside. 'He was floppy and appeared to be unconscious. His skin was grey-blue which I took to mean he was in shock and I immediately got his bag and administered his EpiPen.' She added that she could feel Benedict breathing and placed him in the recovery position - and then when he stopped breathing she began to perform CPR. Paramedics and his father had been called and Mr Blythe arrived shortly afterwards. Benedict was one of three children in the class with known allergies - though Ms Brown said she had not seen any written allergy management plan for him. She had received online anaphylaxis training and online and in-person training on how to use an epi pen, the inquest was told. The jury heard that Benedict, who lived in Stamford with his parents and younger sister Etta, had eaten a McVities gingerbread biscuit as a break time snack, which he had brought in from home. He had refused a carton of oat milk and drank water instead. Benedict's mother Helen Blythe was among those giving evidence on the opening day earlier this week of the inquest into the death of her 'kind-souled' son'. She told how he was 'not just a child with allergies' but 'a whole universe', as she paid tribute to the boy as 'curious, funny, kind and loving - adding: 'The world should have been safer for him.' Elizabeth Gray, the area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, has addressed a jury at Peterborough Town Hall considering a verdict in the inquest. She informed the court how Benedict as kept home from school on November 30, shortly before his death, because he was unwell and had vomited the previous night - but he went to school as normal on December 1. The coroner said Benedict ate a biscuit during that school day which he had brought from home and was then offered oat milk by a class teacher but declined to drink it. The inquest is scheduled to continue for the rest of the week, with other school staff and health professionals lined up to give evidence.


The Sun
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Benedict was dying in front of us' – Dad recalls son's tragic last moments after rushing to his school when he vomited
A DAD recalled his son's tragic last moments, as he desperately tried to save the five-year-old's life. Peter Blythe was called to his son Benedict's school after the tot vomited twice during break time. 8 8 8 He arrived at Barnack Primary, in Stamford, Lincolnshire, to find Benedict unconscious on the floor and staff frantically trying to revive him. The tot - who was in his first year at primary school and was allergic to milk, eggs and some nuts - had suffered a serious allergic reaction. 'Benedict was dying in front of us and I could not believe what was happening,' Peter said during an inquest at Peterborough Town Hall. The retired RAF senior aircraftsman immediately began CPR but struggled to clear mucus blocking Benedict's airway. Music teacher Dave Read, who was working outside the reception class at the time, saw Peter enter the room and then heard him yell. He stepped in to help as he was first aid trained. 'It seemed the right decision to take over CPR, as Mr Blythe was crying. But he was not in any way doing a bad job,' Dave said. 'Everyone was working together to do the right thing. At the time, the CPR felt like it was working.' Peter and school staff continued to perform CPR for ten to 15 minutes before paramedics arrived. Benedict's mother Helen got there just two minutes later, at the same time as an air ambulance. He was taken to Peterborough City Hospital but pronounced dead shortly before 1pm. His cause of death was given as food-induced anaphylaxis. The tragedy unfolded on December 1, 2021 when Benedict, who was allergic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, sesame and chickpeas, vomited during breaktime. He showed no other signs of an allergic reaction and teaching assistant Sophie Brown said that she assumed the sickness was related to an illness earlier in the week. 8 8 The youngster had been kept home on November 30 as he had been unwell and vomited in the night, the inquest was told. Sophie , who was trained in first aid and was aware of the boy's allergies, told the inquest: "He was off the day before so I assumed it was a bug." She didn't recall Benedict asking for his blue asthma inhaler. She said if he had, then she would have taken it as a sign that he was having an allergic reaction and fetched his epi-pens immediately. She told the inquest: "When I said 'are you feeling OK?' he said 'good'. He said 'no' to his mouth being tingling, there was nothing on his body that showed any hives." Sophie said Benedict changed his clothes before he vomited a second time ten minutes later. His class teacher Jenny Brass took him outside to get some fresh air. It was at this point he collapsed. 'I heard Jenny shouting my name and she was carrying Benedict inside,' Sophie told the inquest. 'He was floppy and appeared to be unconscious. His skin was grey-blue which I took to mean he was in shock and I immediately got his bag and administered his EpiPen.' The signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis + what to do SYMPTOMS of an allergy usually occur within minutes of contact with with the offending food or trigger, but they can also come on up to one hour later. Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life threatening. In some cases, anaphylaxis symptoms lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal so it's important to know how to recognise them and act quickly. Mild to moderate symptoms include: Itchy mouth, tongue and throat Swelling of lips, around the eyes or face Red raised itchy rash (often called nettle rash, hives or urticaria) Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea Runny nose and sneezing Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Swelling of your throat and tongue Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing Feeling tired or confused Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting Skin that feels cold to the touch Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency. Follow these steps if you think you or someone you're with is having an anaphylactic reaction: Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injector. Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction. Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you're struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you're pregnant, lie on your left side). If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it's still in the skin. If your symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector. Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better. Sources: Allergy UK, NHS She added that she could feel Benedict breathing and placed him in the recovery position. When he stopped breathing she began to perform CPR. Paramedics and his father were called and Peter arrived shortly afterwards. Benedict was one of three children in the class with known allergies. Sophie said she had not seen any written allergy management plan for him but had received online anaphylaxis training and online and in-person training on how to use an epi pen. The jury heard that Benedict, who lived in Stamford with his parents and younger sister Etta, had eaten a McVities gingerbread biscuit as a break time snack, which he had brought in from home. He had refused a carton of oat milk and drank water instead. Helen, Benedict's mum, previously told the inquest jury that vomiting was "always" the first symptom of his allergic reactions, but "how it played out after that varied". She said the youngster was "well aware" of his allergic reactions and had woken up "as normal and in good health" that morning. The mum also told how she was "terrified" after learning Benedict had fallen ill. She continued: "The day Benedict died, our world broke but what's even more unbearable is the knowledge that we weren't alone. "Benedict was not just a child with allergies, he was a whole universe - curious, funny, kind and loving - and the world should have been safer for him." The Benedict Blythe Foundation was set up in his memory by his family last year. Along with The Allergy Team and the Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA), the charity launched the schools allergy code to protect children with allergies and set out how schools can keep pupils safe. The inquest is scheduled to continue for the rest of the week, with other school staff and health professionals due to give evidence. 8 8