A devastated mother has shared her unimaginable heartache after she watched her 19-year-old son die on a video call, moments after he unknowingly consumed a peanut-laden cake at a hotel in Turkey.
Idris Qayyum, from West London, had been on his first holiday without his family when the tragedy occurred in June 2023.
Despite living with a severe peanut allergy for his entire life, he took every precaution to ensure his safety.
When he ordered a cake at a hotel rooftop terrace in Antalya, he repeatedly checked with staff using Google Translate, confirming that it did not contain peanuts.
However, within minutes of eating, Idris began to feel breathless and quickly returned to his room with a friend.
As Idris’s condition worsened, his friend called his mother, Ayeshah Bathia, who could only watch in horror as her son’s heart stopped beating.
“Our lives have been shattered forever,” Ayeshah told MailOnline.
“To lose our son aged 19 is the worst tragedy any family could face. But to lose him in circumstances where we weren’t able to be there to help him is even harder to bear.”
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As Idris lay unconscious, Ayeshah pleaded with hotel staff to administer his EpiPen and call an ambulance. But by the time the camera showed him on the floor surrounded by CPR efforts, it was too late.
His family is now seeking legal action against Love Holidays, the company that booked Idris’s trip.
They allege that the tour operator and its suppliers misled him regarding food allergens and failed to train staff on handling allergy emergencies.
Ayeshah’s message is clear: “Travel companies and hotels must take responsibility for the safety of their guests. Allergy training is available, and food allergens must be properly labeled.”
Love Holidays has expressed deep sorrow and pledged an urgent investigation into the incident, though the family’s legal action prevents them from offering further details at this time.
