Breakfast’s tragic turn

A TEENAGER died from a reaction to an anaesthetic given to him after he suffered an anaphylactic attack from eating a hospital breakfast, a coroner has found.

Louis Tate, 13, was allergic to milk, eggs and nuts. He had an immediate reaction after eating Weet-Bix and soy milk at Frankston Hospital, Victoria, on October 25, 2015.

Louis had an EpiPen in his bag at the time of the attack but nursing staff were not allowed to use it.

Dad Simon Tate called for immediate action.

“If he had not had the breakfast, he would be home with us and we would not be here. We live every day without him, it’s so hard,” he said.

“The fact that there are community organisations that can give EpiPens and nurses can’t is just outrageous.”

Coroner Phillip Byrne said Louis died of malignant hyperthermia, a rare condition caused by a reaction to anaesthetic during intubation.

The anaphylactic attack contributed to death as it was the reason Louis needed an anaesthetic, but the hospital’s response was reasonable and adequate, he said.