The parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who tragically died after suffering a catastrophic allergic reaction, have launched a new £1m Allergy School to improve awareness in schools
The parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse opened up about their final tragic moments with the teenager, who died after eating a baguette sandwich purchased from Pret a Manger.
In the summer of 2016, Natasha, from Fulham, West London, had bought the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette at a Heathrow Airport branch of the popular lunchtime chain, before boarding a plane to the French city of Nice. The 15-year-old was gravely allergic to sesame seeds and had no idea that the sandwich contained them.
As they’d been baked into the bread, the seeds weren’t visible and, moreover, the packaging label didn’t list them as one of the ingredients in the sandwich. At the time, this was not required by law – a law that her devoted parents, Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, would later fight to change.
Now, Tanya and Nadim have rolled out a £1m Allergy School, developed in partnership with the King’s Foundation charity, in a bid to improve allergy awareness in schools. It’s hoped that this new scheme will save other families from the unimaginable heartache endured by the couple, who were left utterly helpless after it became apparent Natasha couldn’t be saved.
After boarding the British Airways flight, Natasha became unwell, and, realising that she’d suffered an allergic reaction, Nadim injected her with 2 EpiPens. Sadly, given the severity of Natasha’s reaction, the adrenalin shots made no difference, and the teenager suffered multiple cardiac arrests.
The pilot opted not to make an emergency landing and instead proceeded with the flight for another hour until the plane reached its destination. French Paramedics were on hand to help when they eventually landed, continuing to give Natasha CPR. By then, however, it was too late to save Natasha, and as she lay dying in a French hospital some 800 miles from home, Nadim was forced to make a devastating call to his wife, Tanya.
Tanya had been waiting at Stansted airport, preparing to fly over to France to be with Natasha, when she received a call from Nadim, letting her know their daughter wasn’t going to make it. Remembering the call two years later during an interview with The Guardian, Nadim revealed the words of urgency he’d pressed on Tanya as the time drew near: “You’ve got to say goodbye to her now. Don’t lose time. She’s going to die any minute. Say something. Do it right now. She might hear it.”
Tanya also recalled the final words she spoke to her daughter from across the ocean, sharing: “Tashi, I love you so much, darling. I’ll be with you soon. I’ll be with you.”
On top of his overwhelming grief, Nadim was also wracked with guilt over Natasha’s death, telling the publication: “Because I love my daughter – I really love my daughter, in a way that’s like one flesh. As a parent, I would die a thousand times, crucified, for her to live. I spent 15 years nurturing the most precious thing in my entire life. As a human being, there’s nothing more important than that. In that moment, how could it be that I failed her? I will live with that until I die.”
During the 2018 inquest into Natasha’s death, a coroner concluded that Pret a Manger’s allergy labelling had been inadequate. In October 2021, in light of Natasha’s shocking death, ‘Natasha’s Law’ was introduced, which now requires all food outlets to give a full list of ingredients and allergy labelling on pre-packaged food items intended for direct sale.
Speaking with BBC Breakfast after the law was rolled out, Tanya remarked that Natasha would have been “very proud” of the new regulations. She continued: “Today we really feel like we’ve achieved it and it feels really special.”
In a statement of support given following the introduction of the new Allergy School scheme, King Charles II said: “Improving understanding of this issue is so important for keeping children with food allergies safe and ensuring they are able to participate fully in activities at school or in our wider communities.
“I am particularly heartened that my King’s Foundation has been closely involved with the project, helping all of us to become more aware of the many ways we can support one another.”
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