Benedict Blythe inquest jury rules 'accidental' allergy death
The school and Department for Education have both been approached for comment.Following six days of hearing evidence, jurors also found there were delays in administering an adrenalin pen by staff.Benedict had asthma and a number of allergies including eggs, nuts, kiwi fruit and milk.His parents worked with the school to put together a "number of preventative measures for Benedict", which included a personal allergy action plan and a specific process for storing, preparing and supplying oat milk to the pupil.This involved storing the milk, which was labelled with the child's name, in the staff fridge and pouring it into Benedict's cup in the classroom before handing it directly to him.However, on the day of his death that process was not followed because his milk had been poured in the staff room and then taken to him in the classroom.The foreperson of the jury told the court: "We deem the probable source of the allergen that caused the fatal anaphylaxis is the ingestion of cow's milk protein, most probably from his own receptacle during break time."Jurors also found there were missed opportunities to review "lessons learned" from a previous incident, in which Benedict was served pizza for lunch at the school in October 2021, which resulted in him being sick.Among other factors that probably caused Benedict's death included "opportunities for cross-contamination or mix-up of milk, his allergy plan not being shared and distributed to teaching staff, and a late identification of his symptoms and treatment", the jury said.
Speaking after the conclusion of the inquest, Mrs Blythe said: "Three and a half years ago, we lost our son. Benedict died in a place where he should have been safe – his school."Since then, we've been left in silence - without answers, without accountability. It has taken years of painful waiting, legal processes and relentless perseverance just to uncover the truth. And even now, the truth is devastating."There were critical failings from the very beginning. The investigation at the time was inadequate as the evidence needed to establish how and why he died was never obtained. Because of that, precious time was lost - and with it, opportunities to understand what happened to our son."Benedict's death was preventable and was caused by a cascade of failures -individual, institutional and systemic."
Area coroner Elizabeth Gray was previously told the five-year-old was pronounced dead at 12:57 in Peterborough City Hospital and died due to food-induced anaphylaxis.Jurors previously heard Benedict had been kept off school on 30 November after being sick the night before.He went back on 1 December after Mrs Blythe, who gave evidence last week, said he "was fine and didn't appear to be unwell".That day, while outside with other children during morning break, Benedict ate a gingerbread biscuit he had taken with him from home, the inquest had heard.He then returned to the classroom, where he was offered oat milk but was said to have refused it. He fell ill shortly after that before his death.Speaking outside court earlier, Mrs Blythe said: "No more children should die at school because of an allergy."We demand change."
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
This new SPF from ESPA hydrates, protects and leaves skin naturally radiant with 92% of users agreeing
There's something quietly reassuring about a solid skincare routine, especially when it doesn't require a dozen complicated steps or leave you feeling slick. Still, for many of us SPF is the step that gets forgotten, skipped or reserved for holidays abroad. And who can blame us? Traditional sunscreens can feel chalky, greasy or leave behind a ghostly, stubborn white cast. The thing is: protecting your skin isn't just about beach days. With UV rays, blue light from screens and urban pollution all contributing to premature ageing, SPF really is an everyday essential – whether you're sitting on a sun-drenched patio or just replying to emails indoors. Enter ESPA's new Protect & Brighten Daily Skin Shield SPF 50 (£40, Designed to slot seamlessly into your morning routine, it promises comfortable and lightweight protection, and leaves your skin with a natural luminosity that looks fresh, not filtered. In fact, 92 per cent of users said it gave their skin a visible dewy glow. For those concerned about signs of ageing, or simply wanting to maintain a youthful-looking complexion, this may well be the SPF you've been searching for. So, what makes it stand out in a sea of sun protection? And what's behind these glow-giving claims? Let's take a look. More than sun care Unlike heavy-duty sunscreen sprays that sit on top of the skin, ESPA's Skin Shield is formulated like a luxurious moisturiser that just so happens to include SPF 50. It's powered by hydrating hyaluronic acid, antioxidant-rich beta carotene and Chinese butterfly bush extract, which help to defend against UV rays, blue light and pollution. Together, they offer more than just sun protection: they soothe, hydrate and actively help to reduce the visible signs of ageing. From fine lines to sun spots and uneven tone, the daily aggressors this product guards against are relevant year-round – not just during a heatwave. And because the texture is so lightweight and non-greasy, it layers easily over your existing moisturiser or under make-up (if you're wearing any), without pilling or feeling cakey. A 3-in-1 primer, protector and glow-booster The real beauty of ESPA's Skin Shield lies in its finish. Fast-absorbing and silky, it gives skin a subtle radiance that leaves you looking lit-from-within, naturally and without the strobe effect of a highlighter or shimmer. There's no white cast, no stickiness or even the sensation that you're wearing anything. It's the kind of multi-tasker we look to in the summer months: simplifying your morning routine but sacrificing neither sun protection nor skin smoothing. You can use it as your final skincare step, a smoothing primer or the one thing you slap on if you're running out the door. According to user trials, 96 per cent agreed their skin looked brighter after just two weeks of use and 83 per cent said fine lines and wrinkles appeared softened. For a no-makeup-makeup look, this one's doing the heavy lifting. For all skin types and every kind of day One of the biggest pain points with SPF is inclusivity, and ESPA has paid attention here. Skin Shield is wearable on all tones and textures, from dry and sensitive to oily or blemish-prone. It doesn't clog, flake or fight your base, and it's as comfortable for long hikes as it is for commuting. Add in the fact that you're getting broad-spectrum UVA/UVB coverage and oxidative stress protection in one simple step, and it starts to feel less like a luxury and more like a non-negotiable. Plus, with 20 per cent off (was £50, now £40, it's a timely excuse to elevate your skincare essentials before the seasons shift.
The Guardian
34 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Was everything brighter 40 years ago? How color perception changes as we age
Every now and then, a bit of nostalgia bait drifts across my social media feed, with people pining for the brighter colors of the past – the vivid hues of the Toys R Us logo, or a 90s McDonald's play zone. On Reddit, posters observe: 'As I get older it feels like life is losing its color,' and ask: 'Were colors brighter and more vibrant when I was younger?' Indeed, according to research from the UK's Science Museum Group, there's been a stark increase in gray everyday objects since the mid-20th century. But this dullification may go beyond the modern preponderance of ashen cars, sad beige nurseries and millennial gray apartments. Scientists believe that color perception itself can fade, altering how the world appears. Depending on how your eyes – and brain – age, the bright red balloon you remember from your seventh birthday party might not look as vivid if you came across it again at 93. Changes in color perception can occur for several reasons. One common factor is structural shifts in the eye. For instance, a cataract – a condition that clouds the eye's lens – can gradually tint vision with a yellow-brown 'brunescent' hue. In the US, about 4m cataract surgeries are performed annually. A brunescent lens 'can pull the blue and green out' of the world around us, says Dr Andrew Iwach of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. After a cataract is removed, the difference in color clarity afterward can be so striking that Iwach wears a bright blue tie to delight his recovering patients. Changes in color perception can also be caused by glaucoma or macular degeneration. Iwach recommends routine eye exams, and says if you notice this type of change, see an ophthalmologist. Research from 2024 found that up to 15% of global dementia cases could be linked to problems with color perception issues, meaning that an eye exam can be an important step in screening and mitigating the disease. Some medications can also affect color perception, says Iwach – namely Viagra (pilots are required to abstain from the drug eight hours before flying lest it affect their perception of blue hues) and some types of heart and tuberculosis medications. Yet research suggests that even in the absence of eye disease or medication use, color perception can shift over the course of our lives. Dr Janneke van Leeuwen, a social neuroscientist and honorary research fellow at University College London's Queen Square Institute of Neurology, noticed a subtle trend in behavioral studies from the last three decades: older adults consistently rated colors duller than younger participants did. Van Leeuwen set out to investigate: do we truly see the world differently as we age? And if so, is it the eyes or the brain driving that change? Her 2023 study involved 17 young adults and 20 older adults in 'an eye tracking experiment' featuring 26 colors, which varied in lightness (how light or dark a color appears) and saturation (how pure and intense a color appears). Using a camera that recorded pupil diameter 1,000 times per second, Van Leeuwen's team observed how participants' pupils reacted to each color. They found a reduction in the way older people's pupils responded to more highly saturated colors, even when correcting for the shrunken baseline pupil sizes that come with age. Thus, it seems some older adults may genuinely perceive the world as less colorful. Van Leeuwen recalls one participant saying: 'Oh, it's a shame there's not a real punchy red.' 'I was thinking: 'Well, you're looking at one!'' she says. The issue, Van Leeuwen explains, 'doesn't necessarily originate in the eyes, but in the brain'. Pupil responses are controlled by the Edinger-Westphal nucleus, a midbrain structure that receives input from the retina and the visual cortex. This means that pupillary reactions reflect both what the eyes detect and how the brain processes that information. Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life after newsletter promotion The brain becomes less sensitive to how saturated and vivid colors are not because the eyes fail to register them, says Van Leeuwen, but because the visual cortex may no longer interpret them with the same intensity. 'Older adults seem to be particularly less sensitive to the intensity of colors on the magenta-green pathway,' she adds, referring to the anatomical structures in the eye that help process colors. More research is needed to understand why, but the cause probably lies in how the cones in our eyes interact with color-processing pathways in the brain. Currently, Van Leeuwen is following up her study with an investigation into how differences in saturation perception influence the way colors make younger and older adults feel. The 2023 study's findings align with a phenomenon called the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect: the brain's tendency to perceive highly saturated colors as brighter than less saturated ones, even if their actual lightness is the same. Believed to be an evolutionary trait for important evaluations such as the ripeness of fruit, this effect also takes place in the primary visual cortex. This 'further supports our findings that the decline in sensitivity in color saturation in healthy ageing originates in the brain, and not the eyes', says Van Leeuwen. There is no sign this loss of saturation perception follows the same process as the onset of certain types of dementia, Van Leeuwen emphasizes – many older adults experience vision declines without developing dementia, which has multiple risk factors. However, the study does provide insight into how our brains change as a result of normal, healthy ageing, which is useful context in the study of neurological disease. Is there anything you can do to stop age-related declines in saturation perception? Researchers don't currently believe that lifestyle habits can meaningfully influence this process. But there's some evidence that the brain can be 'trained' to see the world differently. Anya Hurlbert, a color and vision scientist at Newcastle University, points to a 2020 study involving EnChroma glasses, which feature a saturation-boosting tint to help reduce the effects of some types of color blindness. Participants with red-green color perception deficiencies who wore the glasses reported seeing increased color saturation even after removing them. Alternatively, simply surrounding oneself with more intense colors could help. As Van Leeuwen notes, 'Older adults tend to evaluate more saturated colors more positively than younger adults … which seems to suggest they might need the extra stimulation.' Just another reason to see the new Wes Anderson movie.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Ozempic-style pill can help people lose two stone
A daily pill that works like Ozempic can help slimmers lose an average of two stone, trials have found. The study of overweight and obese adults given the drug, which targets appetite receptors, found they lost significant amounts of weight and saw improvements in heart health. Orforglipron is part of a class of medications which has shown promise turning the tide on a host of conditions, including heart disease and strokes. The medicine works by targeting the same GLP-1 receptors as the drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, which are given as injections. Orforglipron is the first pill of its kind to complete phase III trials, with previous oral medications having resulted in less weight loss and requiring complex food and water restrictions. The drug is expected to be available in the UK as soon as next year at a much lower cost than weight-loss injections. Manufacturer Eli Lilly has said it is confident they would be able to launch it globally without any supply constraints. Experts have said it could prove 'game-changing' with millions more people likely to opt for pills. The results announced by Eli Lilly come from a trial of 3,127 adults who were overweight or obese, and also had a weight-related medical problem, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. The drug has already shown good results in patients with type 2 diabetes. At 72 weeks, there was average weight loss of 27. 3lbs (12.4 kilos). And six in 10 participants lost at least 10 per cent of their body weight. Separate trials have shown other injections have caused greater weight loss - with average loss of almost three and half stone (22 kilos) for those on the highest dose of Mounjaro. But the convenience of a daily pill, and a lower cost, is likely to appeal to an even greater market than those taking injections. The trial also found that orforglipron was associated with reductions in known markers of cardiovascular risk, including non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure in pooled analyses across all doses. Detailed results will be presented next month at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2025 in Vienna. Obesity affects 1 billion people worldwide Kenneth Custer, president of Eli Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, said: ' Obesity is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, driving global chronic disease burden and impacting more than 1 billion people worldwide.' 'With orforglipron, we're working to transform obesity care by introducing a potential once-daily oral therapy that could support early intervention and long-term disease management, while offering a convenient alternative to injectable treatments. 'With these positive data in hand, we are now planning to submit orforglipron for regulatory review by year-end and are prepared for a global launch to address this urgent public health need.' Dr Simon Cork, a senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, said: 'These preliminary results on the effectiveness of orforglipron in promoting clinically significant weight loss are a positive step forward in the development of these class of drugs. 'It should be noted that their effects on weight loss are not as profound as that seen in injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Wegovy, with a lower percentage weight loss and fewer people achieving 10 per cent weight loss at the highest dose. 'Nevertheless, that this medication is an oral form, rather than injectable, will likely be seen as more tolerable for many patients. The manufacturing costs are also anticipated to be significantly lower than injectable drugs, meaning these medications may be more equitable in their availability. 'It should be noted that these are preliminary, non-peer reviewed results and we will need to see the full trial methodology and data before a more comprehensive analysis can be undertaken.'
