A man who was ‘very good’ at managing his nut allergy died after eating a Deliveroo takeaway full of peanuts, an inquest heard today.
Computer programmer James Atkinson ordered a chicken tikka masala pizza, chips and Indian sides with his flatmate from the Dadyal restaurant in Newcastle, having searched the internet for likely ingredients in certain foods.
The former Newcastle University student was said to have eaten some chips and less than one slice of the pizza before he realised he was suffering an allergic reaction and called for an ambulance.
The 23-year-old was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle at 8.40pm on July 10, 2020. Despite the efforts of medics to resuscitate him, his death was confirmed at 9.21pm.
An inquest into his death began at Newcastle Coroner’s Court today where his family are hoping to find answers about the circumstances of how James came to die.
Computer programmer James Atkinson ordered a chicken tikka masala pizza, chips and Indian dishes with his flatmate from the Dadyal restaurant in Newcastle, having searched the internet for likely ingredients in certain foods
At the start of the hearing, Mr Atkinson’s parents, Jill and Stuart (left and centre), together read out a pen-portrait of their son
Mr Atkinson was known to be allergic to peanuts. He had only once been admitted to hospital for an allergic reaction 10 years earlier and at that time was told to avoid nuts in his diet, the inquest at Newcastle was told.
In the decade that followed he only had a ‘few reactions’, but suffered a fatal reaction in July 2020 after eating a meal, which included pizza containing nuts, ordered through the Deliveroo app.
Mr Atkinson told his flatmate he was ‘not sure’ about the pizza after eating less than a slice and said ‘something about nuts’.
The inquest heard his friend went in search of his EpiPen – used by sufferers to reduce the impact of an anaphylactic shock – while he phoned for an ambulance.
When paramedics arrived the ‘scared’ patient asked them as they gave emergency care ‘am I going to die?’.
Home Office pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton outlined the background to her inquiry into his death, and said Mr Atkinson was ‘gasping for air’ when the ambulance crew arrived.
By the time he had been helped downstairs, he was assessed to have a Glasgow coma score of three, Dr Bolton said, and was ‘profoundly unconscious’.
He was given three doses of adrenalin to treat the suspected anaphylactic reaction but Mr Noble said he ‘didn’t respond positively’ to treatment and was taken straight to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
There was just 21 minutes between the ambulance arriving at the house and arriving at the hospital.
Toxicology tests showed he had no alcohol or other drugs in his system at the time and so his decision-making ability was not impaired, the inquest heard.
The contents of his stomach were examined by an expert after his death and what were possibly nuts were found.
Examination of the uneaten takeaway food also detected the presence of peanuts, as did analysis of a ‘nut mix’ at the Dadyal restaurant, Dr Bolton said.
Dr Bolton said Mr Atkinson was known to be ‘usually very good’ at monitoring his allergies, having been diagnosed with a peanut allergy 10 years earlier
She gave the cause of death as anaphylaxis following peanut ingestion.
Coroner Karen Dilks asked Dr Bolton if the outcome would have been different had an EpiPen been found to use on Mr Atkinson.
The pathologist said: ‘Even with the appropriate use of an EpiPen, there’s no guarantee that an individual will survive, but it certainly increases your chances.’
When Dr Bolton answered Mr Hassall’s comment about Mr Atkinson saying he was going to die, she said: ‘He experienced his difficulty in breathing and he was becoming aware it was getting worse, (and) individuals do sometimes say ‘I am going to die.
‘Medically, that is taken very seriously. Everybody is still doing everything they can to stop that being the case, and, in fact, to prove the individual wrong.’
At the start of the hearing, Mr Atkinson’s parents, Jill and Stuart, together read out a pen-portrait of their son.
On behalf of the family, his father said: ‘James had a gift of making others happy, checking in on friends and offering support when needed.
‘To be in his company with his amazing sense of humour and infectious laugh was a privilege.
‘First on the dance floor and last to leave, James lived life to its fullest but also had a sensitive and thoughtful side.
‘His whole family meant the world to him. He was loving, kind and caring. ‘James’s sudden death has left an insurmountable hole in our hearts.
Examination of the uneaten takeaway food also detected the presence of peanuts, as did analysis of a ‘nut mix’ at the Dadyal restaurant, Dr Bolton said.
‘He had his whole life ahead of him full of future plans and dreams that will not be realised or witnessed by his family.
‘No more memories to make. ‘We were blessed to have him for the 23 years that we did. He is irreplaceable.
‘However, to honour him we hold a forever space in our hearts and carry him with us always – our beautiful boy, James.’
The inquest, set to last two weeks, continues.