A mother watched her 19-year-old son, Idris Qayyum, succumb to a severe allergic reaction over a video call.
Idris, from West London, had been enjoying his first holiday without his family in Antalya, Turkey, when the incident occurred. His life, after managing a lifelong peanut allergy, was cut short after consuming a cake served by hotel staff who assured him it was free from peanuts.
During his stay at the hotel, Idris and a friend visited the rooftop terrace, where he ordered a dessert. Idris took every precaution to notify the staff of his allergy. Using Google Translate, he repeatedly confirmed with the waitstaff that the cake contained no peanuts.
Moments after eating the dessert, Idris began experiencing difficulty breathing. Alarmed, he rushed back to his hotel room with his friend. The situation quickly worsened, leading his friend to call Idris’s mother, Ayeshah Bathia, via video call.
On the call, Ayeshah witnessed the moments Idris collapsed and his heart stopped within 20 minutes of consuming the cake. Describing the traumatic experience, she told MailOnline:
“Our lives have been shattered forever. Losing our son at the tender age of 19 is the most devastating tragedy any family could endure. To see him suffer and pass away while we were miles away, powerless to help, is a pain beyond words. What makes it unbearable is knowing he did everything in his power to protect himself.”
Ayeshah pleaded with the hotel staff through the call, desperately urging them to administer Idris’s EpiPen and call an ambulance. She added:
“As soon as the camera turned to show him, I saw him lying on the floor. Three staff members were attempting CPR, and I knew it was dire. My daughter and I were forced to watch helplessly, crying and shouting instructions, begging them to use his EpiPen.”
The Qayyum family has since initiated legal proceedings against Love Holidays, the travel agency that facilitated Idris’s trip. They allege that the agency and its partners failed in their duty of care by not providing accurate allergen information and not ensuring hotel staff were adequately trained in allergy management and anaphylaxis response. They believe these lapses directly contributed to Idris’s untimely death.
“Travel companies and the hotels they work with have a duty to ensure the safety of their guests. Comprehensive training on allergies and anaphylaxis must be mandatory for all staff. Proper labeling of food allergens is non-negotiable. If raising awareness through this tragedy can save even one life, it will bring some meaning to our loss.”
Love Holidays expressed their condolences in a statement, saying:
“We are deeply saddened by Mr. Qayyum’s passing and extend our heartfelt sympathies to his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. The safety of our customers is our highest priority, and we are conducting a thorough investigation with the hotel involved. As legal proceedings are underway, we are unable to provide further comments at this time.”
