Benedict Blythe: 'Kind-souled' five-year-old died after allergic reaction at school
Benedict Blythe, who was in his first year at Barnack Primary School in Stamford, Lincolnshire, died in hospital on 1 December 2021 after vomiting at school, a jury at Peterborough Town Hall heard.
His mother Helen Blythe said during the first day of the inquest into her son's death: 'Benedict was not just a child with allergies, he was a whole universe – curious, funny, kind and loving – and the world should have been safer for him.'
The cause of death for Benedict, who was allergic to milk, eggs and some nuts, was recorded as food-induced anaphylaxis, Elizabeth Gray, the area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said.
Ms Gray told the jury: 'Benedict was five years old at the time of his death. He suffered from asthma and a number of allergies including milk and an egg allergy.'
The inquest heard Benedict was kept home from school on 30 November because he was unwell and had vomited the previous night, but went to school as normal on 1 December.
The coroner said Benedict ate a biscuit during that school day which he had brought from home and then was offered oat milk by a class teacher, but he refused to drink it.
He then vomited so his parents were called to pick him up, but he vomited a second time and was taken outside for fresh air where he 'collapsed'.
An adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) was administered by a first aid-trained teaching assistant but Benedict was 'not responding' before CPR was attempted.
Emergency services were called but the schoolboy died later that day at Peterborough City Hospital.
Benedict's mother, who gave evidence to the inquest, told the jury that vomiting was 'always' the first symptom of his allergic reactions, but 'how it played out after that varied'.
She said the school was given a management plan with 'things we knew as a family and as his parents' about his allergic reactions.
In a witness statement read to the inquest, Mrs Blythe said Benedict was 'well-aware' of his allergic reactions, adding: 'I believe he had an allergic reaction and this is what caused his death.'
She added that Benedict 'woke up as normal and in good health' that morning with no temperature or cough.
She described feeling 'terrified' when she learnt that Benedict had become unwell.
The inquest heard that Benedict was 'not necessarily adventurous' with food but had become 'increasingly anxious' about asking whether things contained milk because of previous allergic reactions.
Dr Emilia Wawrzkowicz, a consultant paediatrician, said the initial post-mortem examination report recorded Benedict's cause of death as asthma but she felt 'very strongly' that it was due to anaphylaxis.
She told the court: 'The original post-mortem report had concluded on the balance of probabilities that the cause of death was asthma. I whole-heartedly disagreed with this. I was shocked to have seen this.'
She said one of the reasons she believed this was because there was 'never any suggestion of airway compromise'.
A video was shown to the jury of Benedict opening his advent calendar before school with his younger sister on the day he died.
Mrs Blythe told the inquest the chocolate he ate from the advent calendar was dairy-free.
She also read a pen portrait to the inquest, saying: 'Quick-minded and kind-souled, Benedict's love of 'playing numbers' was one hint to why he joined Mensa when he was four.
'His superpower was his kind heart, and it's that kindness that is so missing from our lives.
'The first return to a new school year after his death, children said 'I wish Benedict was here – he'd stop me feeling nervous'.
'Aside from the joy Benedict had in his life, he had to develop his own quiet kind of bravery.
'He lived with allergies and chronic asthma, and sometimes that meant missing out — on parties, on snacks other children could eat, on ice creams from the ice cream van – but he never let it define him.
'The day Benedict died, our world broke but what's even more unbearable is the knowledge that we weren't alone.
'Benedict was not just a child with allergies, he was a whole universe – curious, funny, kind and loving – and the world should have been safer for him.'
The Benedict Blythe Foundation was set up in his memory and, along with The Allergy Team and the Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA), launched the schools allergy code last year to protect children with allergies and set out how schools can keep pupils safe.
The inquest, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
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11 hours ago
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The signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis + what to do SYMPTOMS of an allergy usually occur within minutes of contact with with the offending food or trigger, but they can also come on up to one hour later. Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life threatening. In some cases, anaphylaxis symptoms lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal so it's important to know how to recognise them and act quickly. Mild to moderate symptoms include: Itchy mouth, tongue and throat Swelling of lips, around the eyes or face Red raised itchy rash (often called nettle rash, hives or urticaria) Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea Runny nose and sneezing Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Swelling of your throat and tongue Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing Feeling tired or confused Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting Skin that feels cold to the touch Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency. Follow these steps if you think you or someone you're with is having an anaphylactic reaction: Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injector. Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction. Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you're struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you're pregnant, lie on your left side). If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it's still in the skin. If your symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector. Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better. Sources: Allergy UK, NHS She added that she could feel Benedict breathing and placed him in the recovery position. When he stopped breathing she began to perform CPR. Paramedics and his father were called and Peter arrived shortly afterwards. Benedict was one of three children in the class with known allergies. Sophie said she had not seen any written allergy management plan for him but had received online anaphylaxis training and online and in-person training on how to use an epi pen. The jury heard that Benedict, who lived in Stamford with his parents and younger sister Etta, had eaten a McVities gingerbread biscuit as a break time snack, which he had brought in from home. He had refused a carton of oat milk and drank water instead. Helen, Benedict's mum, previously told the inquest jury that vomiting was "always" the first symptom of his allergic reactions, but "how it played out after that varied". She said the youngster was "well aware" of his allergic reactions and had woken up "as normal and in good health" that morning. The mum also told how she was "terrified" after learning Benedict had fallen ill. She continued: "The day Benedict died, our world broke but what's even more unbearable is the knowledge that we weren't alone. "Benedict was not just a child with allergies, he was a whole universe - curious, funny, kind and loving - and the world should have been safer for him." The Benedict Blythe Foundation was set up in his memory by his family last year. Along with The Allergy Team and the Independent Schools' Bursars Association (ISBA), the charity launched the schools allergy code to protect children with allergies and set out how schools can keep pupils safe. The inquest is scheduled to continue for the rest of the week, with other school staff and health professionals due to give evidence. 8 8
