Parents hit out at staff over boy’s allergy death
The parents of a boy killed by an allergic reaction to his school dinner have hit out at staff after an inquest heard he may have survived if given his EpiPen as he lay dying on the floor.
Nasar Ahmed’s mother accused authorities at Bow School of failing in their duty of care by not administering adrenalin to the teenager after he collapsed, turned blue and began foaming at the mouth in a school exclusion room.
She spoke after a catalogue of errors were revealed at the inquest into the November 2016 death of the 14-year-old – who had a history of severe asthma and food allergies – after eating tandoori chicken containing milk.
The inquest heard an early adrenalin injection may have saved Nasar, but staff did not do so. Instead he died four days later in the Royal London Hospital from a massive brain injury caused by the reaction.
Returning a narrative conclusion, coroner Mary Hassell said she would write five Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports, including to the London Ambulance Service (LAS), whose paramedic told staff not to give Nasar adrenalin before they arrived.
Speaking outside the inquest, Nasar’s mother, Ferdousi Zaman, told reporters her son had been a “jolly” boy who dreamed of becoming a politician, and whose friends still hoped “maybe Nasar is coming back”.
She criticised school staff ’s medical training, saying: “If he has anaphylaxis I give him his EpiPen. They are first-aiders, they are more knowledgeable than me.
“They have failed their duty of care.”
In a statement read by family solicitor Lochlinn Parker, she and her husband, Ashrafuz, added that they were “deeply saddened to now know of the missed opportunities to save Nasar’s life”.
Year 9 pupil Nasar had asthma, severe eczema and a host of allergies.