Benedict Blythe died in hospital after becoming unwell at school
Need to know: What the coroner said after Benedict Blythe’s death
- A coroner has issued a “prevention of future deaths” report after the death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe. The report advises Cambridgeshire Police and the Royal College of Pathologists to make changes to their procedures.
- Benedict, who had severe allergies, died after suffering a food-induced anaphylactic reaction while at his primary school in December 2021. He died at Peterborough City Hospital after going into cardiac arrest following a period of vomiting.
- Initial investigations focused on a biscuit the boy had eaten at break time, believing it caused the allergic reaction. Evidence later revealed the anaphylaxis was “more likely than not” caused by exposure to cow’s milk protein.
- A key “matter of concern” in the police’s actions was their failure to seize evidence at the scene of the death. Officers neglected to collect and retain Benedict’s ‘vomitus’ for forensic analysis.
- The coroner’s report advised that police must include seizing and retaining all available data samples and evidence, including ‘vomitus’, as part of their investigation into unexplained child deaths. This material is vital for investigation by pathology and coroner services.
- The coroner raised concerns regarding the treatment and retention of samples by pathologists at the hospital. Retention and testing would have identified the cause of the allergic reaction sooner.
- The Royal College of Pathologists was advised to revise ‘Kennedy sample’ protocols for cases of suspected anaphylaxis. The new protocol must mandate collecting evidence like blood samples.
- The coroner advised that pathologists should store and freeze stomach contents at once to help determine the presence of an allergen. They recommended retaining blood samples taken during hospital resuscitation for testing and analysis.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE: Police told to make changes after young Cambridgeshire boy’s death
