Daily Express

One bite of takeaway kills nut allergy boy

- By Anil Dawar

A PROMISING young footballer collapsed and died from a nut allergy after a bite of a friend’s Chinese takeaway.

James Turnbull, 15, was with his mates on a night out but collapsed and went into an anaphylact­ic shock when they got off a bus as the group headed home.

Paramedics battled 50 minutes to save him.

James, who was due to take his GCSEs this year, suffered from a nut allergy for many years.

Proud

in vain for

His devastated parents Mark, 49, and Jenny, 41, from Sandiacre, Derbyshire, paid tribute to their son, who played centre back for the town’s football team,

Mark said: “He was my pride and joy. There are no words. I was very proud of him. He was outgoing and popular, loved his football and his music and really enjoyed being out with his mates.

“He was gearing up for a future in football. He was refereeing for the Derby Mini League and was a talented footballer.”

Jenny said: “He was a beautiful, gentle and funny lad who I could never tell off because he would make me Talented schoolboy footballer James Turnbull died after a bite of a chicken ball from a friend’s Chinese takeaway laugh.” James took a bus home with friends after the takeaway at the home of a pal. His father added: “By the time he got off the bus, he had collapsed. He had four or five mates with him. Paramedics worked on him for 50 minutes but had to call it a day.

“His mates had a Chinese. He took a chicken ball which had traces of nut in it, and he went into an anaphylact­ic shock.”

Alan Ure, chairman of Sandiacre Town FC, said the team were devastated. James had played for them for three years.

Mr Ure said: “He was so popular. He was a character and attracted people to him. He was a nice guy, a bit of a jack the lad. He was a good player and had a good chance of doing something in football such as playing, refereeing or coaching. Everyone is devastated.”

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