Nigerian mother, Ayeshah Bathia, experienced the unimaginable as she watched her teenage son, Idris Qayyum, die over a video call.
The tragedy unfolded during Idris's first holiday without his family in Antalya, Turkey, where he succumbed to a severe allergic reaction after consuming a cake containing peanuts a dessert he was assured by hotel staff was safe. Idris, a 19-year-old from West London, had lived with a severe peanut allergy all his life.
On the fateful day in June 2023, he took every precaution to ensure his safety. According to reports, Idris "triple-checked with waiters" using Google Translate to confirm the absence of peanuts in the cake.
Despite these efforts, shortly after eating the dessert, he began experiencing breathlessness and returned to his room.
In a desperate attempt to save him, Idris's friend contacted his mother via video call. Ayeshah recounted the harrowing moments to MailOnline, saying, "Our lives have been shattered forever. To lose our son aged 19 is the worst tragedy any family could face." She described the helplessness of watching her son collapse, pleading with hotel staff to administer his EpiPen and call for an ambulance. "I was shouting down the phone whilst crying," she recalled, as she witnessed staff performing CPR on her son.
The family has since initiated legal action against Love Holidays, the travel agency through which Idris booked his trip. They allege that the company failed to provide accurate allergen information and did not adequately train its staff, which they believe contributed to Idris's death.
In response, Love Holidays expressed their condolences and stated, "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."
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