A heart-wrenching incident occurred at a school in London, UK, where a 13-year-old boy named Karanbir Cheema tragically lost his life. Karanbir, who had severe allergies to various substances, including dairy, wheat, gluten, egg, milk, and tree nuts, experienced a fatal reaction after a piece of cheese was thrown at him by a classmate.
Karanbir did not consume the cheese, but it made contact with his skin, hitting his neck and causing a severe allergic reaction. Despite being rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital in critical condition, his life couldn’t be saved, and he passed away a few days later. The cause of death was later determined to be post-cardiac arrest syndrome.
In an interview on This Morning, Karanbir’s mother, Rina, shared the heart-wrenching farewell they had to bid to their son. Making the difficult decision to turn off his life-support machine, she mentioned, “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.”
It is devastating to learn that Karanbir’s EpiPen, which could have potentially saved his life, was discovered to be nearly a year past its expiration date. The outdated EpiPen provided him with adrenaline, which was the only treatment available before he experienced cardiac arrest.
The classmate who threw the cheese claimed that he was unaware of Karanbir’s severe dairy allergy and was only playing around. While severe allergic reactions from skin contact are rare, fatal cases are even rarer. Dr. Adam Fox, a pediatric allergy consultant, stated during the inquest into Karanbir’s death that such a severe reaction from mere skin contact was unprecedented. Extensive research did not uncover any similar fatal cases.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to be aware of and respect the allergies of others, especially in school settings where children are vulnerable. It is essential for parents, teachers, and students to be educated about allergies and the potentially life-threatening consequences they can have. Let us come together to create a safer and more understanding environment for everyone, especially those with allergies.