Mom Recalls Tragic Incident After 13 Year old Daughter’s Death From a Sip of Hot Chocolate
The mother of 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs, who died after drinking just one sip of hot chocolate, recalls the heartbreaking moment when her worst fear became a reality.
Hannah, a teenager from the UK, had been severely allergic to dairy since she was a toddler. Over the years, she had become accustomed to managing her allergies carefully. However, a tragic incident on February 8, 2022, turned her world upside down.
On that fateful day, Hannah and her mother, Abimbola Duyile, visited a coffee shop where they ordered hot chocolate. Unfortunately, a miscommunication led to the drink being made with cow’s milk instead of the requested non-dairy alternative. This mistake would ultimately cost Hannah her life, as the inquest at East London Coroner’s Court later revealed.
The Devastating Moment
Barista Urmi Akter, who took the order, was at the center of the inquest. Abimbola had specifically requested hot chocolate made with soya milk, emphasizing Hannah’s severe dairy allergy. She even asked the barista to thoroughly clean the equipment to avoid cross-contamination.
In court, Abimbola recalled her horror as she realized something was wrong. Hannah took one sip of the hot chocolate, and within moments, her body reacted. Despite attending a scheduled dental appointment shortly afterward, Hannah’s condition rapidly deteriorated. By 1 pm, just hours after that single sip, Hannah was tragically declared dead.
Conflicting Accounts
The inquest revealed a dispute over the details of the order. Abimbola was clear that she had asked for two soya hot chocolates and requested thorough cleaning of the jug. However, Ms. Akter, who had worked at the Costa Coffee franchise in Barking for about eight months, told the court she believed she followed the proper procedure.
Costa Coffee’s policy for non-dairy orders includes showing customers an ingredients book, which details how the drinks are made. Ms. Akter admitted that she did not show the book to Abimbola, stating in her testimony that the mother seemed knowledgeable and reassured her that washing the jug was sufficient.
Assistant coroner Dr. Shirley Radcliffe addressed the situation, noting that Ms. Akter had used her legal right to avoid answering questions that could be self-incriminating.
The Investigation Continues
The inquest continues as the court hears further testimonies. The coroner will soon give a ruling on the circumstances that led to Hannah’s tragic death. In the meantime, Costa Coffee has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond.
This heart-wrenching incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of food allergies and the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols in food establishments.
Keywords:
- Tragic hot chocolate incident
- Teenager dies from dairy allergy
- Hannah Jacobs allergic reaction
- Costa Coffee allergy death
- Managing severe dairy allergies
- Miscommunication food allergy
- Coroner’s court inquest on allergy death
