Nut allergy schoolgirl, 13, dies after eating curry
10:00am Thursday 2nd September 2010 in News
A SCHOOLGIRL with a nut allergy has died after eating a curry.
Molly Dyer, a pupil at Castlebrook High School, Bury, died in Fairfield Hospital on Saturday night following an allergic reaction.
The popular 13-year-old, of Lily Hill Street, Whitefield, had just returned from family holidays in Turkey and Wales and was due to resume her studies at the Unsworth school in Year Nine today.
Her devastated parents, Meryl Matthews and Paul Dyer, said Molly had “a love for life“ and was friendly to everyone she met.
Meryl, aged 41, said: “She had such an energy for life and everyone she met would say she was wonderful. She could get on with anyone.”
Paul, aged 40, added: “She could hold a conversation with anyone, any age, and she would make them feel like they were the most important person to her.”
Molly, a budding dancer, avid music lover and fan of pop band JLS, was diagnosed with the nut allergy at the age of three.
Her parents, who recently separated, said Molly was always careful about what she ate because she knew how serious the allergy was.
She returned from holiday on Saturday and later went to her mum’s friend’s house for a takeaway.
She shared a curry but, shortly after the meal, Molly’s lips began to swell and she was struggling to breathe.
Molly had eaten the curry on numerous other occasions without any problems. Her mum called an ambulance and Molly initially appeared to be getting better after medication.
She was taken to Fairfield Hospital, but her condition deteriorated and doctors spent four hours trying to save her.
Molly’s father Paul, a pharmaceutical company manager, said: “She was always so careful in everything she did and everything she ate, and that’s what hurts more than anything.
She had 13 birthday cakes and never took one bite.”
Meryl, a nurse at Hope Hospital, Salford, added: “She loved school and never let her illness stop her. She was really excited about going back to school.”
Headteacher at Castlebrook High, Mr Antony Roberts, said: “The whole school community is devastated by the tragic death of Molly Dyer – a lovely, bright and intelligent young lady.
“Molly had a natural love for school, her attendance and punctuality was outstanding.
She excelled in her studies, particularly enjoying drama and sports and she made a great contribution to the life of the school.”
