Boy died after school failed to use EpiPen in allergy attack
THE parents of a boy who died after suffering an allergic reaction at school have criticised staff who did not give him his EpiPen as he lay dying.
Nasar Ahmed’s mother accused staff of ‘failing in their duty of care’ by not administering adrenaline to the 14-yearold after he collapsed and began foaming at the mouth after eating lunch.
The teenager, who had severe asthma and food allergies, died four days after the incident at Bow School in East London last November from a brain injury brought on by the allergic reaction.
Yesterday a coroner said ‘there is a possibility’ Nasar might have survived had his EpiPen been used promptly.
Speaking outside Poplar Coroner’s Court, his mother Ferdousi Zaman said: ‘If he has anaphylaxis I give him his EpiPen. [School staff] are first-aiders, they are more knowledgeable than me. ‘They have failed their duty of care.’ Coroner Mary Hassell will send out five Prevention of Future Death reports, including to Bow School and London Ambulance Service, whose paramedic told the school over the phone not to give Nasar adrenaline before they arrived.
The inquest heard Nasar’s school care plan did not mention an EpiPen or using adrenaline to tackle many allergies.
Nasar complained of breathing problems two hours after lunch, before collapsing. Staff had access to his EpiPen for five minutes before paramedics arrived, but were unsure whether to use it.
Returning a narrative verdict, Miss Hassell said: ‘If the EpiPen had been used promptly ... there is a possibility but not a probability that this would have changed the outcome.’
Bow School said it had ‘rigorously reviewed all of our safety procedures and are providing more training for staff’.