A popular Brighton Grammar student, James Tsindos, who tragically died after having an allergic reaction back in 2021, had no idea the burrito bowl he bought through Deliveroo was topped with a cashew-based nacho cheese sauce.
The 17-year-old died on June 1, 2021, five days after ordering a meal from a local vegan restaurant through the food delivery app while awaiting the results of a Covid test.
The Coroners Court heard on Tuesday that the year 12 student had asthma and a tree nut allergy, including cashews, but had not been prescribed an EpiPen.
James’ devastated parents, Harry and Venetia, his sisters Kristina, Elpida, and Georgia, and several of his classmates packed the courtroom as Coroner Sarah Gebert ordered an inquest into his death.
According to the Herald Sun, The family’s lawyer, Paul Halley told the court they held “grave concerns” about how the burrito bowl was advertised on the Deliveroo app; the vegan nacho cheese sauce was in fact a cashew sauce, however that was not specified on the online menu.
The court heard that after James was admitted to hospital, his oxygen levels started dropping and he was given another dose of adrenaline. James was declared brain dead at 5.20pm on May 29.
“He used to say to us that he wasn’t as popular as some of the other boys, but if he knew how many people he has affected through this tragedy, he would be absolutely blown away”, James’ Mother, Venetia Tsindos said.
The inquest has no set date, but it is expected to last two days.
Source: Herald Sun
