Teenager died near London Eye from allergic reaction to street food

Pic:Owen Carey, 18, with father Paul
Staff reporter(wp/es):

A schoolboy died from a suspected allergic reaction after eating a piece of grilled chicken during a trip to London to celebrate his 18th birthday.

Owen Carey, 18, fell ill as he walked by the London Eye with his girlfriend and was rushed to nearby St Thomas’s Hospital after being given first aid by members of the public.

He was on his way to the Sea Life Aquarium after visiting the Star Wars exhibition at the O2 earlier in the day as a surprise gift from her for his birthday. 

The popular pupil, a prefect at The Skinner’s School in Tunbridge Wells, was pronounced dead 45 minutes later at 4pm on Saturday at St Thomas’s Hospital.

His father Paul Carey today revealed his youngest son was believed to have suffered an anaphylactic shock from a “bit of plain grilled chicken” he had eaten from a restaurant while out during the day.

He paid tribute to his “truly wonderful, lovely son” and vowed to raise awareness of the risk of allergies and anaphylaxis that he believes robbed him of his son.

“Owen was full of life and full of fun and he is going to be sorely missed by many people,” he said.  

“He was just a wonderful, bright boy who was going to do so much with his life and now he is gone. I don’t know how we will go on. He had suffered throughout his life with allergies and there was always a risk that something might happen and unfortunately it did.

as careful about what he ate, and if it was just plain-grilled chicken it should have been ok. We are still waiting for the result of tests to find out more.”

Owen, a keen guitarist, cyclist, climber and skier who lived with his mother in Crowborough, Sussex, has suffered from multiple allergies all his life, including to spices, peanuts, milk and wheat. 

He normally carried an EpiPen to be used in the case of a severe reaction but had forgotten to bring it out with him that day. He had never suffered a severe reaction before.  

The teenager had been offered a place at Swansea University to read computer science, where he planned to go in September after taking his A-levels this summer.

In a heartbreaking Facebook post Mr Carey wrote: “This time last week I was saying goodbye to my younger son, Owen, as he went off from Plymouth on the coach back home to Sussex. Today, a week later, I have to start preparing myself to say goodbye to him for ever.

“On Saturday just gone, shortly before 4pm, Owen died, in front of the big wheel that is the London Eye, of an anaphylactic reaction to something he had eaten at lunchtime.

"He died with his girlfriend beside him. Paramedics and others tried to help, but it was all in vain.”

Mr Carey said that he had recently celebrated Easter with his son at his new home in Cornwall, just weeks after the teenager had turned 18 and he turned 60.

He said: “I felt so full of life then, but just now, I really, really do feel so empty, and it is going to be a struggle in these next few days, weeks and months, to come to terms with what has happened.

“A stupid bit of ‘plain grilled’ chicken cooked the wrong way has robbed me of my son, and I will never, ever, be able to replace him. He has gone forever.” 

Claire Gilbert, a mother who works on the London Eye, wrote: “I was working at the eye on Saturday and saw what happened. I saw my team members attending to him along with the paramedics.

“I can’t imagine what you’re feeling being a mum myself. After my shift I gave my oldest son a huge cuddle. My thoughts are with you and his loved ones and this very sad time.”

Edward Wessen, head teacher of the Skinner’s School, said: “It is with huge sadness that we note Owen’s passing. Our first thoughts are with his family who will be numb with grief at losing someone so young and with so much potential. 

“He was hoping to go to Swansea University to read computer science and would have made a fine undergraduate. 

“He was a quiet but popular individual with an excellent sense of humour. He had a close knit group of friends and was much valued here as a prefect in our coding club.”

Mr Carey said he wanted to share the news of his son’s death to raise awareness of charities supporting people with allergies, such as anaphylaxis.org.uk