THE FAMILY of a teenager who died of anaphylactic shock an hour after eating a chicken korma which contained peanuts claim they have been let down because nobody has been held responsible for his death.
Dylan Hill, 18, was allergic to peanuts and collapsed after eating at Shaam’s curry house in Wombwell on May 17, 2015, an inquest in Sheffield was told this week.
Dylan, of John Street, Thurnscoe, was on a date with girlfriend Demi Cash and ordered chicken korma - the only dish he ever had in Indian restaurants as he believed it was free from nuts - but within two mouthfuls felt ill and was sick.
Just months before Dylan’s death, there had been another allergen-related incident at Shaam’s when Jordan Atherton, 15, had to be treated at hospital in similar circumstances after having a takeaway.
His family reported it to the restaurant but the owner did not pass this on to Barnsley Council or the Food Standards Agency.
But despite a police investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute the restaurant’s owner, Abdul Khalid.
Mr Khalid said that if he had been given warning of Dylan’s allergy, he would have refused to serve the korma, but admitted there was no information regarding ingredients and allergens on the menu.
The restaurant, on High Street, closed in 2016.
In a statement, Dylan’s family said: “The incident involving Jordan Atherton should have acted as a wake-up call to the restaurant to sort the business out. We see this incident as an opportunity for Dylan’s death to have been prevented.
“We think it’s a case of gross negligence and ultimately unlawful killing. We have had time to put things into perspective but there’s an overriding sense that his death should not have happened.
“We have had no proper justice. We feel incredibly let down - a fun-loving, 18-year-old lad with the best years ahead of him has lost his life.”
The inquest was told the korma which Dylan ate contained almond powder. Analysis of the powder after his death showed it had 6g of peanut and 94g of almond per 100g, ‘more than enough’ to provoke a severe reaction, coroner Tanyka Rawden said.
Dylan’s mum Lynsey Davies, who was called by a panicked Miss Cash in the midst of the incident when her son had ‘turned blue’, said: “Dylan was allergic to peanuts, not all nuts, and we discovered it when he was a ten-year-old on holiday in Benidorm. From then on he’s been terrified of peanuts and foods which may contain them.
“Korma was the only thing he’d ever order from an Indian restaurant as he was always all right. When Demi rang to ask me to bring his EpiPen, I was annoyed as I always told him to take it with him but we now know that having it on him may not have saved his life.
“I feel cheated and devastated that I have lost my son.”
Coroner Mrs Rawden, who recorded a narrative verdict, is now compling a prevention of future deaths report, which will see bosses from organisations including Barnsley Council, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the Food Standards Agency receive guidance.
“I have considered unlawful killing and sending this case back to the Crown Prosecution Service but to do so, I must be absolutely sure the action taken before the death has been grossly reckless,” she said.
“There has to be a clear disregard for someone else’s life and in this situation, although Mr Khalid did not heed warnings, I cannot say he knowingly disregarded Dylan’s life. He was not aware the powder contained peanuts.
“It is essential organisations work together to prevent deaths such as this from happening again. At present there is a lack of communication between those who should be talking.
“I am deeply sorry for the family’s loss but I can say we will do all we can by sending this report to the people who have the power to step in and take action.”
