On June 28, 2017, London was struck by a heart-wrenching tragedy when 13-year-old Karanbir Cheema died following a distressing incident at his school.
Karanbir, who had severe allergies to multiple substances including dairy, wheat, gluten, egg, milk, and tree nuts, was struck by a piece of cheese thrown by a classmate.
Unfortunate Contact with Allergic Trigger
Despite not consuming the cheese, Karanbir’s allergic reaction was triggered when the cheese made contact with his skin, specifically his neck.
The allergic reaction prompted an immediate and severe response, requiring urgent medical attention. Karanbir was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital in critical condition.
A Heartbreaking Outcome
Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Karanbir’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He passed away a few days later, and his cause of death was determined to be post-cardiac arrest syndrome.
His parents were faced with the agonizing decision to turn off his life-support machine. Karanbir’s mother, Rina, shared her profound grief on This Morning, describing the painful process of saying goodbye:
“We didn’t want to switch it off—it wasn’t fair on his little body to go through this. He smiled when the machine was turned off.”
Medication and Awareness Issues
Karanbir had an EpiPen with him at school, but it was discovered that the medication was nearly a year past its expiration date.
The EpiPen was the only treatment administered before he suffered cardiac arrest. The classmate who threw the cheese claimed it was meant as a prank and stated he was unaware of Karanbir’s severe dairy allergy.
Expert Insights on the Rare Case
Dr. Adam Fox, a pediatric allergy consultant, described the case as “extraordinarily unusual” during the 2019 inquest.
He noted the rarity of severe allergic reactions resulting from skin contact alone, emphasizing that such a fatal outcome from mere skin contact is unprecedented and not documented in existing case reports.
This tragic event has highlighted the critical need for greater awareness and management of severe allergies in schools.
Rest in Peace Karanbir Cheema