A SHOCKED mum has told how her allergy-stricken son sent a photo of the snack he was enjoying before his phone died for good.
George Cadman-Ethel sent a haunting letter to his mother, Louise Cadman, with a photo of cured sausages and the text “These are nice.”
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But just three minutes later, the 25-year-old sent a panicked text message that read: “Damn, it has walnuts in it.”
Louise replied: “You haven't eaten anything, have you?” Her son said: “Yes.”
George had not seen the label “aux noix” on the salami package, which also said “with walnuts” in English.
After a frantic two-minute conversation, the terrified mother never heard from her son again, after pleading with him to call emergency services.
When she stopped receiving responses, Louise rushed to George's apartment where she found paramedics performing CPR on him.
The young man had run home from the shops in less than 10 minutes, with husband Joe Nolan using an EpiPen.
But tragically, George went into cardiac arrest and his brain was deprived of oxygen for 26 minutes, causing severe brain damage.
He remains in a comatose state in the rehabilitation unit at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, northwest London.
The university graduate has three years to live, and doctors have informed his family that he is unlikely to recover, despite his ability to open his eyes and breathe on his own.
“He can definitely hear. If he's asleep, for example, and Joe comes up and says hello, George opens his eyes straight away,” mum Louise told The Times.
George was diagnosed with a tree nut allergy when he was five years old after reacting to Gillian's seashell chocolate at his grandparents' house.
Tests also revealed that the child was allergic to crustaceans such as prawns.
But during his 15 allergic reactions to nuts in his life, the 25-year-old has never needed to use his EpiPen.
He has always managed his seizures with antihistamine tablets.
The Cadman family is now supported by the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (NARF) which was established in memory of Natasha Ednan Laperouse.
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Natasha, 15, who was allergic to sesame, tragically died in 2016 after eating a Pret a Manger baguette containing the ingredient.
Now Louise, from Upminster, east London, has spoken out about what happened to George in the hope of raising awareness.
“We were just devastated,” she said. “I can't bear the thought of this happening to another family.”
The devastated mother also told how “Joe is devastated” because “George was in the happiest place in his life”.
George also misses his father Tony Ethel, and his siblings Alexandra, 32, Joe, 22, and Lily, 19.
“He did his best to avoid eating nuts, and if he was out in restaurants, he would always announce it,” Louise explained.
“But, equally, I think he thought, 'Well, if they give me something by mistake, I'll feel a little sick,' and it was never more than that.”
Louise told how her son had previously had reactions while on holiday – where he would “vomit for an hour or so, his lips would swell and his throat would feel itchy” – but he had never had to use his EpiPen.
Signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis + what to do
Allergy symptoms usually appear within minutes of contact with the food or problem trigger, but may also appear up to one hour later.
Most allergic reactions are mild but may also be moderate or severe.
Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction and can be life-threatening.
In some cases, the symptoms of anaphylaxis lead to collapse and loss of consciousness, and in rare cases, they can be fatal, so it is important to know how to recognize them and act quickly.
Mild to moderate symptoms include:
- Itching in the mouth, tongue and throat
- Swelling of the lips, around the eyes or face
- A red, itchy rash (often called nettle rash, urticaria, or urticaria)
- Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea
- Runny nose and sneezing
Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- Swelling of the throat and tongue
- Difficulty breathing or breathing very quickly
- Difficulty swallowing, tightness in the throat, or a hoarse voice
- Wheezing, coughing, or noisy breathing
- Feeling tired or confused
- Feeling faint, dizzy, or faint
- 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 the soles of your feet
Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency.
Follow these steps if you think you or someone with you is having an allergic reaction:
- Use an epinephrine auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – Instructions are included on the side of the injector.
- Call 999 to ask for an ambulance and say you think you are having an allergic reaction.
- Lying down – You can raise your legs, and if you are having difficulty breathing, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if pregnant, lie on your left side).
- If you are bitten by an insect, try to remove the sting if it is still in the skin.
- If symptoms do not improve after 5 minutes, use a second epinephrine autoinjector.
Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel well.
Sources: Allergy UK, NHS
But when George ate salami containing walnuts, he went into severe anaphylactic shock.
Louise explained: “They had no food at home because they were packing, so George ran to the shops.
“He was busy. His mind was elsewhere. We always used to call him the absent-minded professor because he was so smart, but common sense?”
“Not always. I can imagine him picking up the snack and saying, 'Oh, I've had it before' without looking at the label.”
The grieving mother also believes George's eight-minute journey home may have made his condition worse.
NHS guidance warns people with anaphylaxis that they should avoid high activity and should instead lie down and elevate their legs to help improve blood flow to vital organs.
Louise has issued an urgent warning to even those with mild allergies to pay close attention to food labels.
“If you have an allergy, it can go from relatively mild to fatal from one episode to the next,” she said.
“This is the time of year when people try new foods, eat out, go to people's houses, and maybe get complacent like George did.”
Two weeks before the tragedy, George had graduated with a first-class degree in Urban Planning, Design and Management from University College London.
He and Joe were planning to move in with his grandmother, Susan Cadman, so the couple could save money while George studied for his master's degree.
Natasha Law
Written by Ben Griffiths
The family of an allergy sufferer who died after eating a poorly labeled Pret sandwich on a British Airways flight have told how they have forgiven the high street giant.
Griffing Nadd and Tania Ednan Laperouse, whose daughter Natasha died in 2016, praised the sandwich chain for leading the way in implementing the new packaging rules.
Natasha's Law — named after the 15-year-old girl — requires companies to list all ingredients in pre-packaged foods.
In an exclusive interview, the family spoke of their “great pride” in implementing the new historic regulations.
They mean that an item such as artichokes, olives and baguette, which Natasha died after eating, will now have to list all 34 ingredients – instead of the three that were on offer five years ago.
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Tanya, who along with Nad won an OBE for her work in getting the law passed, said: “I know Natasha will be very happy that this law has come into force and that we have been able to get it through.” It has passed.
“You can't do anything if you're full of hate so we've forgiven Britt. This doesn't make up for the fact that she's not here now but Britt has already led the way in changing her packaging.
“They spent millions getting their refills in line and educating employees about allergies.
“The new law means tens of millions of sandwiches across the UK will now have to detail everything they contain from the smallest trace of ingredients.”
Natasha was on her way to Nice, France, for a summer holiday with Nad and her best friend Bethany Holloway in July 2016 when she bought a baguette from Pret a Manger at Heathrow Airport.
It contained hidden sesame seeds, something she was allergic to, but the ingredient wasn't written on the package. Shortly after takeoff, Natasha had a reaction.
Nad rushed her to the bathroom and gave her two shots of adrenaline from EpiPens that he expected would combat the reaction.
Her last words were, “I can't breathe, I'm suffocating, help me, Dad,” before she suffered a fatal heart attack.
A 2018 inquest into Natasha's death criticized Britt for its “inappropriate” classification and error in Natasha's death, causing the company to pledge to make “meaningful change”.
Nad and Tanya begin their mission to change the law after the investigation. This now means that any fresh item prepared at the point of sale will now have to list all the ingredients it contains.
To visit the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, visit www.narf.org.uk.
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