‘Our son was killed on holiday by peanuts hidden in a pudding – we watched him die over video’: Anguished parents of 19-year-old claim hotel staff insisted the dish was safe to eat

The heartbroken family of a tragic teenager with a life-threatening allergy have told of how he was killed by a peanut-laced dessert that waiting staff had assured him was safe. 

Idris Qayyum, from west London, suffered a suspected fatal anaphylactic reaction to the cake he ate at a hotel restaurant while in Antalya, Turkey, in June. 

The 19-year-old had a severe peanut allergy, which had been diagnosed as a toddler and he had managed it well throughout his life.

But late on the first evening of his week-long trip booked with Love Holidays — the first without his family — he and his friend headed to their hotel’s rooftop terrace where dessert platters were being served to guests.

Idris, who was studying to become an electrician, told waiters at the Marti Myra Hotel he had a severe peanut allergy in English and asked whether the desserts contained the allergen three times, his family say. 

Even after repeating his request on Google Translate, he was assured they were safe to eat. But moments after consuming the cake, Idris began to feel nauseous and breathless and they both returned to their hotel room.

Idris’ friend urgently video called his mother, Ayeshah Bathia, who desperately shouted at emergency crews to administer the EpiPen as she watched them perform CPR on her son.  

Less than twenty five minutes later, however, his heart had stopped working and despite attempts to save him, he was declared dead. 

Now, his family have launched legal action against Love Holidays, claiming the package tour operator and its suppliers failed to provide correct information regarding food allergens and misled Idris. 

They also argued the company did not provide adequate training to staff on allergies and food safety. 

Recalling her heartbreaking ordeal, Ms Bhatia told MailOnline: ‘Our lives have been shattered forever. To lose our son aged 19 is the worst tragedy any family could face. 

‘But to lose him in circumstances where we were not able to be there to help him is very hard to bear. 

‘And to lose him knowing that he had made every effort to protect himself from a harm to which he knew he was vulnerable is even worse.’

On the evening of the tragedy, she received a video call from his friend at around 10:20pm in the UK. Staff had been called to his room. 

‘As soon as the camera faced to turn him I could see him on the floor,’ she said. 

‘I could see three staff members around him giving CPR and I knew it was really bad. I was extremely distressed, all my daughter and I could do was watch this over a video call. 

‘I was shouting down the phone whilst crying, asking staff to give him is EpiPen, to call an ambulance.’ 

Idris had taken his EpiPen, Ms Bhatia said. But it is unclear why this did not prevent his death. 

She added: ‘There was a 20 to 25 minute window from when he ate the dessert and when his heart stopped.

‘Idris was always really vigilant with his allergy. He would always read the packaging of anything he was going to consume. He was really sensible. 

‘We avoided it as best as we could. Over the years, he very occasionally accidentally ate peanuts and his symptoms were different every time. 

‘But it always affected his breathing and he knew he needed his asthma pump.’    

Shocking new data released in August revealed that the number of people with allergies in the UK has doubled in the past decade.

Scientists don’t yet know why, although theories include the decreasing exposure to germs, as well as changes in the Western diet, including a shift towards ultra-processed food.

It also comes just months after an inquest in August revealed that 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs, from Barking in East London, died after drinking a single sip of a Costa Coffee hot chocolate.

The inquest found Hannah, who had severe allergies to dairy, egg, fish and wheat, died following both a ‘failure to follow the processes’ and a ‘failure of communication’ between staff and Hannah’s mother.

Idris first showed signs of a peanut allergy around 18 months, after he was given a peanut butter sandwich for the first time. 

But it wasn’t until he around three years old that tests at an allergy clinic confirmed he must avoid the nut. 

‘He would carry a bag that always had his asthma pump, EpiPen and antihistamines,’ Ms Bhatia said. 

‘He took it everywhere he went. When he was at work he would tell other colleagues about his allergy and how to use the EpiPen. He made them aware.’ 

Now, represented by legal firm Leigh Day, Idris’ family say Love Holidays is liable for the negligence of its suppliers.

If the company and their suppliers had exercised the due care to which Idris was entitled, he would not have suffered the allergic reaction which tragically claimed his life, they claim. 

The allegations against Love Holidays and their suppliers include failing to identify food allergens to guests, providing incorrect information regarding food allergens and misleading Idris as to the contents of food.

The family has also claimed they failed to provide any adequate training to staff on allergies and food safety, failed to implement measures to avoid cross contamination of food and failed to take any adequate care for the safety of Idris.

A Love Holidays spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply saddened to hear of Mr Qayyum’s passing and would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time. 

‘The safety of our customers is our top priority and we are conducting a thorough investigation with the hotel involved as a matter of urgency. 

‘As Mr Qayyum’s family have now instructed lawyers, we are unable to provide any further comment.’

Ms Bhatia told MailOnline: ‘Travel companies have a duty of care to customers and hotel guests to keep them safe.

‘My message to travel companies and to hotels that they work with is that training on allergies and anaphylaxis is available to all staff.

‘It is vital food is labelled correctly with allergen ingredients.

‘We do not want it to happen to anybody else. If we can prevent just one person from suffering the same reaction by raising awareness we will take it. 

‘People who have allergies are not fussy eaters. Their allergen is like eating poison.

‘That’s exactly what the peanut was for Idris, it was poison. 

‘I don’t want anyone to ever downplay an allergy and just say “this person’s just being fussy”. 

‘It’s a serious problem, people can die and everyone’s allergic reaction is different. 

‘It’s not just an itchy throat, hives or vomiting feeling. Allergies can prove fatal within minutes.’

She added: ‘Idris was happy, confident, sensible, caring. 

‘He enjoyed socialising. He was really into his fitness and went to gym. He was physically very fit, he swam and worked as a lifeguard.

‘He had only turned 19 two weeks before his holiday. He’d just passed his driving test, was going to qualify as an electrician.

‘His future was so exciting. He’d talked about going to university to study electrical engineering. 

‘He dreamed of one day owning his own business.’ 

Leigh Day solicitor Colin Murphy also said: ‘We are supporting Idris’ family in a legal claim against Love Holidays. 

‘The loss of their son while on holiday in Turkey has been devastating.

‘Holidaymakers should be able to go on holiday safe in the knowledge that measures will be taken by hotels that work with UK tour operators to protect them in case of food allergies.’

Experts estimate that 10 Brits die from an allergic reaction to food each year, with 5,000 people hospitalised for severe reactions. 

Allergies can provoke a variety of symptoms but the most serious is a dangerous inflammation of the airways called anaphylaxis. 

This can make it hard and even impossible to breath and can cause the body to go into a cardiac emergency like a cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen. 

Children with allergies are considered to be especially at risk from severe reactions as, due to their smaller body size, small amounts of allergens provoke bigger reactions.

Allergies are also often discovered in childhood meaning parents may not have an emergency injection to hand if an allergic reaction occurs.

Bereaved families of those who have lost children to allergic reactions have repeatedly called for the Government to appoint an allergy tsar to improve NHS services and awareness of allergies, to prevent avoidable ill health and death.

Recently more than 50 campaigners and experts including ex-Towie star Megan McKenna and Love Island’s Jack Fowler, said the country wasn’t doing enough to support the millions of Brits living with allergies. 

Idris’s case is the latest in a series of shocking allergy deaths, like that of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction after eating a Pret A Manger baguette containing sesame seeds on a flight from Nice.

Her death led to the introduction of Natasha’s Law, which makes allergy information a requirement for food pre-packed for direct sale.

Following her death, her parents Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse established The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.