Energy drink may have played part in Ferryhill teenager's death, say family

However, an inquest on Monday concluded it was impossible to determine what triggered the fatal anaphylactic shock - which causes breathing and swallowing difficulties - which the 15-year-old suffered at her home in Ferryhill, County Durham.

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Coroner Andrew Tweddle heard how the Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College pupil had bought a rodeo energy drink hours earlier at 4pm on September 12 and began feeling unwell after drinking it.

Consultant pathologist, Chandrakant Patel, said while Rebecca died of an anaphylactic reaction the cause was unknown while immunologist Desa Lilic said such reactions to energy drinks were extremely rare and it was unlikely in Rebecca's case as she had previously consumed energy drinks without any adverse reaction.

Her family, who recently planted a tree at her school in her memory, released a statement afterwards which said they still had concerns.

“We as a family agree with the verdict of an anaphylactic reaction, however the trigger has not been identified but we still have concerns about the energy drink as a contributory factor."

They also urged North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to review their protocol after the inquest heard Rebecca was not given potentially life-saving adrenaline by the first two paramedics to arrive at the scene as they were not qualified.

They added: "We are extremely concerned following the coroner’s inquest that Rebecca had not received adrenaline immediately this is due to the current NEAS protocol that the technicians are not qualified to administer adrenaline.

“Rebecca only received this when the third paramedic arrived.

“During the inquest It was identified this should be administered immediately.

“We want the NEAS to review their protocol as we don't want this happening to another family.”

Earlier, Detective Sergeant Joanne Long told the Crook inquest that Rebecca and a friend had gone to another friend’s house where she began feeling unwell after drinking the energy.

She then went home, did her paper round and had tea before going back out with her friends to a park at about 8.30pm.

While there DS Long said there was a time when her friends lost sight of her before finding Rebecca face down on the ground.

They helped her up and one gave Rebecca, who suffered from asthma, short bursts of her inhaler as she was hyperventilating.

DS Long said they then helped her home at about 9.30pm and Rebecca was sick outside before being sick several more times inside and collapsing in her mum’s bedroom after telling her she felt unwell.

The inquest also heard evidence from Stephen White, the third paramedic to arrive at the house where he found two colleagues giving Rebecca CPR.

He said the youngster was unresponsive and he found it hard to keep her airways clear despite several attempts.

When he did, he gave Rebecca adrenaline before she was rushed to University Hospital North Durham.

Rebecca’s mum, Karen Whittle, challenged Mr White’s account and said Rebecca's airway was not secure and that she should have been given adrenaline immediately.

When asked why she wasn’t given adrenaline by the first two paramedics to arrive, Mr White said they were unqualified.

Consultant pathologist, Chandrakant Patel, confirmed the cause of death as anaphylaxis and said he found Rebecca had congested lungs and that there was a very high level of the enzyme, trytaze.

Immunologist Desa Lilic confirmed the attack was caused by the huge release of the enzyme but, despite extensive tests, was unable to find the trigger.

She added that several hours had passed between Rebecca consuming the energy drink and having the attack which was uncommon as people usually have an attack within an hour of one being triggered.

Mr Tweddle concluded that Rebecca died of an anaphylactic reaction to an unknown trigger.