Boy, 5, collapsed and died at school after horror allergic reaction

A five-year-old boy tragically collapsed and died after suffering a severe allergic reaction at school, an inquest has heard. Benedict Blythe, a bright and much-loved pupil in his first year at Barnack Primary School in Stamford, Lincolnshire, died after eating a biscuit brought from home and falling seriously ill on December 1, 2021.

Benedict, who had chronic asthma and was allergic to milk, eggs, and some nuts, had been kept off school the previous day after vomiting during the night. He appeared healthy the next morning and returned to class as usual, the inquest at Peterborough Town Hall was told.

After consuming the home-packed biscuit, Benedict later vomited. A teacher offered him oat milk, which he declined.

His condition worsened and he vomited a second time before collapsing.

A first aid-trained teaching assistant administered an adrenaline auto-injector, but Benedict did not respond. CPR was performed before he was rushed to hospital, where he sadly died the same day.

The cause of death was confirmed as food-induced anaphylaxis.

Benedict's mother, Helen Blythe, gave moving evidence to the inquest, explaining that vomiting was often the first sign of her son's allergic reactions, though the severity could vary.

She described Benedict as a gifted and gentle boy who had been accepted into Mensa at just four years old due to his exceptional abilities.

"His superpower was his kind heart," she said. "And it's that kindness that is so missing from our lives."

A heartwarming video shown to the jury captured Benedict opening his dairy-free advent calendar with his younger sister on the morning of his death, appearing happy and well.

Helen said her son bravely lived with his allergies, often having to miss out on social activities.

"The day Benedict died, our world broke," she told the jury. "But what's even more unbearable is the knowledge that we weren't alone."

In his memory, the family established The Benedict Blythe Foundation, which works alongside The Allergy Team and the Independent Schools' Bursars Association.

Together, they launched the Schools Allergy Code, a set of guidelines to help educational institutions better protect children with serious allergies.

The inquest, expected to last two weeks, will examine the events surrounding Benedict's death and whether more could have been done to prevent the tragedy.