Girl with allergy dies after Heathrow Pret baguette

A girl with a severe sesame allergy died after eating an airport Pret a Manger baguette, which did not list the ingredients.

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, collapsed during a flight from Heathrow to Nice on 17 July 2016.

Despite her father administering two EpiPen injections, Natasha, from Fulham, London, died within hours, West London Coroner's Court will hear.

Pret a Manger said it was "deeply saddened" by the death.

Natasha's father, Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, said in a statement: "It's a daily battle and the pain is indescribable."

Mr Ednan-Laperouse, the founder of Wow Toys company, said: "As a family now of three, my wife, son and I are still trying to adjust to life without our beloved girl.

"Everything we say and do is a reminder that she isn't with us - her empty bedroom, school uniform hanging in her wardrobe, her holiday bag packed for her holiday in Nice has never been unpacked. We can't bear to."

A spokesperson for Pret said: "We were deeply saddened to hear about Natasha's tragic death, and our heartfelt thoughts are with her family and friends."

Airline passengers at Heathrow Airport terminal Five — Image captionNatasha had eaten a baguette just before boarding the flight to Nice

Natasha ate an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette bought from the main Pret a Manger shop in Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport, said the family's solicitors, Leigh Day.

It is believed the sesame was baked into the baguette, rather than contained in seeds on its crust, said Pret.

The teenager collapsed on the British Airways flight and later died in hospital in Nice.

An estimated 1 in 100 people have an allergy to sesame protein according to the NHS. Reactions can vary from rashes and swelling, to breathing difficulties.

Pret a Manger confirmed its products were not individually labelled with allergen or ingredient information.

Instead signs on shelves and at till points tell customers to speak to a manager who is trained to provide allergen advice, the company said.

Information is also available in the company's allergen guide, which is available in stores and online.

A Pret spokesperson said: "We take food allergies and how allergen information is provided to our customers extremely seriously.

"We will continue to do all that we can to assist the coroner's inquest."

The hearing is due to start on Monday.

Thursday, 13 September 2018

BA smoke in cockpit of 787

PLANE DRAMA

British Airways London to Calgary flight makes emergency landing after ‘cockpit fills with fumes and pilots left needing oxygen masks’

Fire crews raced to the runway at Iqaluit Airport in Canada after the plane was diverted at around 5pm local time

By Gemma Mullin

13th September 2018, 1:49 am

Updated: 13th September 2018, 7:06 am

A BRITISH Airways flight from London to Calgary made an emergency landing after the cockpit reportedly filled with fumes and pilots were left needing oxygen masks.

Fire crews raced to the runway at Iqaluit Airport at around 5pm local time after the plane was diverted to Nunavut, Canada.

A British Airways flight from London to Calgary was diverted late on Wednesday evening amid reports of a 'burning smell in the cockpit'

At least one passenger was said to have been treated for arm and chest pains, according to reports.

It was claimed that the fumes were an "electrical burning/fire smell in nature".

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The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner departed London Heathrow at 6.30pm and was due to land at Calgary International Airport in Alberta, Canada, at 8.15pm local time.

The plane was almost six hours into the eight-hour flight when it was forced to land.

A fireman can be seen making his way through the rear door of the plane on Wednesday evening

Emergency crews surrounded the plane as it made its way down the runway at Iqaluit International Airport

Crew could be seen inside the cockpit as the plane waited on the runway at its diverted destination

The BA plane making its emergency landing at around 5pm on Wednesday evening

Flight radar shows the plane changing route as it makes an emergency landing at Iqaluit airport

Pictures from the scene showed emergency service vehicles surrounding the plane, which can seat up to 216 passengers.

A British Airways spokesperson said: "Our highly trained flight crew took the precautionary action of diverting the aircraft and the plane landed safely.