A 23-year-old man with a peanut allergy who died after eating a slice of takeaway pizza ordered through Deliveroo has been described by his parents as someone who brightened everyone’s day and lived life to the full.
An inquest opened on Monday into the death of James Atkinson, a Newcastle University computer science graduate who had found his “dream job” as a computer programmer in the city.
Atkinson had a known peanut allergy. His parents, Stuart and Jill Atkinson from Leeds, have said they hope the inquest will provide wider lessons about allergies and online food ordering.
On Monday an inquest into Atkinson’s death resumed in Newcastle. It heard that on 10 July 2020 Atkinson and a housemate ordered a takeaway through the Deliveroo app.
Atkinson had searched the internet for likely ingredients in certain foods and they ended up ordering chips, chicken tikka masala pizza, onion bhajis, sag aloo and two meat curry dishes.
As he was eating the first slice of pizza, Atkinson realised there was a problem and asked his friend to get his EpiPen while he called an ambulance.
Atkinson said he was struggling to breathe and by the time he got in the ambulance he was unconscious, the inquest heard.
Craig Hassall KC, representing the family, said that when the paramedics arrived, Atkinson had reportedly told them he was going to die.
Jennifer Bolton, a pathologist, said the cause of death was anaphylaxis after peanut ingestion.
Atkinson was otherwise healthy and tests showed there were no drugs or alcohol in his system that may have affected his decision-making.
She said analysis had showed that there had been a “significant amount of peanuts” in the food and there was a “strong suggestion” that there were peanuts in the contents of his stomach.
No EpiPen was discovered and Bolton was asked by the coroner Karen Dilks if that would have made a difference. Bolton said there was no guarantee, “but it certainly increases your chances” of surviving.
Bolton said Atkinson had been aware his breathing was getting worse and “individuals do sometimes say ‘I am going to die’” in those circumstances. He would not have been in pain, she added.
David Noble, a paramedic, said the ambulance had arrived two minutes after getting the “category one” call. He administered three doses of adrenaline before the patient was carried downstairs to the ambulance.
The inquest heard it took four minutes to get Atkinson to the emergency department of the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle city centre.
Standing alongside his wife at the inquest, Atkinson’s father, Stuart, read a “pen portrait” of his son. As a child he “was a happy, bubbly blond-haired little boy who brought sunshine and happiness wherever he went”, he said.
After university he found his dream job “where we were told he brought the biggest ray of sunshine into the office and brightened everyone’s day”.
Atkinson continued: “James had a gift of making others happy, checking in on friends and offering support when needed.
“To be in his company with his amazing sense of humour and infectious laugh was a privilege. First on the dancefloor and last to leave, James lived life to its fullest but also had a sensitive and thoughtful side.
“His whole family meant the world to him. He was loving, kind and caring. James’s sudden death has left an insurmountable hole in our hearts.”
The inquest heard that Atkinson had managed his peanut allergy well and had only once previously been admitted to hospital because of it, in 2013.
The inquest, which continues, is expected to take up to two weeks.
