Staff at Mexican restaurant 'reluctant to call ambulance' before British teenager died of allergic reaction

A British teenager died from an allergic reaction after eating a burrito, despite being repeatedly assured by staff at a restaurant that it did not contain sesame.

Joe Dobson, 19, had gone out to a restaurant with friends in the resort town of Playa del Carmen on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline last November, when he ordered a vegetarian burrito.

He asked the staff multiple times in Spanish and English to make sure there was no sesame in the food, the South London Coroner's Court heard.

Mr Dobson even sent the first burrito he was served back to the kitchen, suspecting it contained the ingredient.

Coroner Mark Taylor said that Mr Dobson was allergic to sesame, eggs, milk and peanuts.

Friends described how after just three bites, Mr Dobson knew there was sesame in it but claimed that restaurant staff didn't seem concerned about his allergy and wouldn't call an ambulance.

'He took two bites and said no, that's got it in it'

He had left his EpiPen at their apartment but by the time he got back to use it, it was too late. He fell unconscious and died later in hospital.

The coroner read out a statement by Harriet Preston, a friend of Mr Dobson's, who said she had gone to visit him and they were sharing an Airbnb together.

"Joe ordered a vegetarian burrito and said no sesame and used the Spanish word. After ordering, there was communication between them to ensure there was no sesame in his meal.

"When the food arrived, it was sent back as Joe believed it contained sesame."

The teenager tried to tell the staff at the restaurant in basic English that if he ate sesame he would die, she said.

"Joe's meal arrived again and I watched him put his torch light over it. He took two bites and said 'no, that's got it in it'.

"He went over to the bar staff, they were in denial. He could feel it in his throat. He said he needed an ambulance but the staff were reluctant.”

Eventually, a police car took him to the local hospital but doctors were unable to revive him and he died that evening.

Mr Taylor said: "It seems there was a gap of 10-15 minutes before the pen could be used. I have no evidence to tell me whether it would have made any difference in terms of outcome.

"It seems very clear to me that Joe did all he reasonably could have done to warn the restaurant not to serve him food containing sesame and even checked himself.”