High pollen count led to our son’s death from an allergic reaction
Parents’ warning after asthma boy tragedy
A BOY of 16 died hours after the end of his GCSEs due to an allergic reaction to pollen.
Joe Dale suffered a devastating attack after spending a day outdoors, unaware of the extremely high pollen count.
Rushed to hospital after he collapsed, the talented teen never regained consciousness.
Six days later, his parents made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support machine and donated his organs to save three lives.
Now, they are speaking out to raise awareness of the fatal dangers of asthma.
Joe, a keen sportsman and go-karter, passed away on June 23, 2017 – the day of his school prom.
His death was believed to be caused by a severe asthmatic reaction to pollen, which causes bronchial tubes to narrow, leaving sufferers struggling to breathe.
Joe’s mum Helena Dale said: “I spent the evening with Joe the day before he died and he was really happy about finishing his GCSEs and looking forward to the summer. The next morning he went to a field with his friends to play football and chill out.
“It was a red-hot day, one of the hottest of the year, but we had no idea what kind of effect that would have on his asthma.”
Helena, 50, of Barnsley, South Yorks, added: “I never believed Joe would die. To lose a child like this is heart-wrenching.
“I had to bury the life I had with Joe and start a new one.
“Most people don’t think asthma is a killer but it is.” Joe was fit and active, played Number of UK citizens who suffer from the effects of pollen Joe’s family remember him football up to four times a week and went karting with dad Jon, 48. Joe began suffering from asthma at the age of five. There was only one asthma attack, when he was 12, before the one which led to his death. He used a standard brown inhaler twice a day, and had a blue inhaler in case of emergency. Moments before his collapse, Joe puffed on his blue inhaler, then fell unconscious. Joe was rushed to Barnsley hospital and admitted to intensive care, where doctors spent days trying to save him. His organs saved three lives, including those of a father and a teenager. Helena said: “He would have wanted that, he was such a kind person.”
Her son had achieved excellent GCSE results and planned to go to university. Joe’s sister Abbie, 25, said: “I miss my little brother so much but I feel thankful for the amazing 16 years I had with him.”