A man with a history of allergic reactions to cheese and jalapeno peppers died after eating a pizza. Robin Wynne Williams, 45, had been for a meal of pizza, chips, nibbles and drinks with workmates but was later found dead in his motorhome.
A pathologist found that he died from a severe allergic reaction to food leading to an anaphylactic shock. Kate Robertson, senior coroner for north west Wales, held an inquest in Caernarfon today into the death of Mr Williams. She heard he had been a contractor on the Menai Suspension Bridge.
The project had just finished and he and his colleagues enjoyed a celebratory meal at The Bridge pub in Menai Bridge on February 2. Afterwards he walked over the bridge to his motorhome which he had been allowed to park on The Antelope pub near Bangor.
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His partner, Karen Maurice, said in a statement that Robin rang her at 9.50pm to say he had large lumps on his legs and his lips were tingly. She said she told him to drink lots of water which had settled such symptoms previously.
The following day she rang him repeatedly but got no reply and a concerned Ms Maurice, who is a communications officer for the Diocese of St Asaph, drove to Bangor after work. She had a spare key to the motorhome and let herself, finding her partner slumped in the toilet cubicle with his chin on the small basin. She rang paramedics but there was nothing they could do to save him. The inquest also heard Mr Williams had reactions in the past.
In August 2018 he and Ms Maurice had a Mexican meal in Llangollen but he developed a rash and collapsed on a bridge. Cheese and chilli were suspected of causing problems and he went to his GP and a professor in Wrexham. Mr Williams said he was told he was allergic to chilli but thought “What a load of rubbish” as he had chilli every day. He was also told to avoid jalapeno peppers. The coroner noted the professor ordered tests but the professor said he should consider himself allergic even if the results are “negative”.
Dr Huyam Abdalsalam, a consultant pathologist, conducted a post-mortem examination at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. The coroner confirmed her finding that the cause of death was anaphylactic shock caused by a food allergy. It had not been possible to get serum from a sample of blood which can clot quickly after death and which might have identified the cause of the allergy.
Coroner Ms Robertson said “there had been a history of a reaction to cheese and jalapenos, or a combination” and Mr Williams had been advised to avoid jalapenos even if tests proved negative. She added: “On the evidence and considering the balance of probabilities it is more likely there was an anaphylactic shock as a result of an allergy to food consumed.”
She gave a narrative conclusion. The family believed the risks of food allergies were not presented to Mr Williams in a “meaningful” way. The coroner said he will write to the GP and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board about what facilities there are to look into allergic reactions to see if a prevention of future deaths report is appropriate. Tom Inglis, a construction manager on the Menai Suspension Bridge project in February, said Mr Williams had been knowledgeable and easy to work with. He had been the “life and soul of the party”.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
