13-year-old Karanbir Cheema tragically lost his life at a school in London, UK, in a heartbreaking tragedy.
A classmate threw a slice of cheese at Karanbir, who was severely allergic to multiple foods, including dairy, wheat, gluten, eggs, milk, and tree nuts. Karanbir’s reaction was fatal.
Even though Karanbir refrained from eating the cheese, it came into contact with his skin, struck his neck, and resulted in a serious allergic response. He was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital in severe condition, but a few days later, his life was taken from him. Post-cardiac arrest syndrome was later found to be the cause of death.
Rina, Karanbir’s mother, talked about the heartbreaking goodbyes they had to say to their son in an interview with This Morning. She added, “He smiled when the machine was turned off… we said our last goodbyes before he was taken down, and he had a smile on his face,” after making the agonizing decision to turn off his life support system.
The news that Karanbir’s EpiPen, which might have prevented his death, was found to be almost a year past its expiration date is heartbreaking. He received adrenaline from the antiquated EpiPen, which was the only therapy he had before going into cardiac arrest.
The student who flung the cheese said he was just kidding about and didn’t know Karanbir had a serious dairy allergy. Fatal incidences of severe allergic responses from skin contact are even more uncommon. During Karanbir’s death inquiry, pediatric allergy consultant Dr. Adam Fox said that a reaction this strong from skin contact was unheard of. Many investigations turned up no evidence of comparable deadly cases.
This sad event serves as a reminder of how important it is to respect and be aware of other people’s allergies, particularly in school environments where young people are more susceptible. It is imperative that educators, parents, and kids receive enough education regarding allergies and the possibly fatal implications they may pose. Together, let’s make the environment more welcoming and safe for everyone, especially those who suffer from allergies.
