It’s been eight years since 13-year-old Karanbir Cheema tragically died after a piece of cheese was thrown at him — a moment that seemed harmless but quickly turned fatal.
For his mother, Rina, the pain remains as raw as ever. And so does her determination to spread awareness about the seriousness of allergies.
**A Tragic Incident**
On June 28, 2017, at a school in London, a classmate tossed a piece of cheese that struck Karanbir on the neck. Within minutes, Karan — who suffered from multiple severe allergies, including dairy — went into anaphylactic shock. Despite being rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital, he later went into cardiac arrest and developed post-cardiac arrest syndrome. After two heartbreaking weeks, Rina was forced to make the unthinkable decision to remove her son from life support.
In a tearful interview, Rina shared, “We didn’t want to turn it off, but it wasn’t fair for his little body to go through more.” She described how he seemed at peace in the end: “He smiled when the machine was turned off.”
**A Preventable Loss**
Karan carried an EpiPen, but the only one available during the incident was nearly a year expired. Experts believe the outdated medication likely had reduced effectiveness, raising difficult questions about whether his death could have been avoided.
At the 2019 inquest, doctors testified that Karan showed clear signs of anaphylaxis — such as scratching — for several minutes before adrenaline was finally administered. Dr. Adam Fox emphasized how vital immediate treatment is: “At the first sign of anaphylaxis, get the adrenaline out and administer it.”
He also noted the rare and tragic nature of the case, stating that fatal anaphylaxis from mere skin contact with an allergen is “unprecedented.”
**Calls for Change**
The boys involved, both 13 at the time, testified behind screens and claimed they were unaware of Karanbir’s allergy. The coroner ruled the act was “childish and thoughtless,” not intentional, but criticized the school for missing a chance to educate its students and staff about allergy dangers.
Karan’s parents, Rina and Amerjeet, continue to campaign for allergy awareness. “He was my best friend, the star of the show,” Rina said, remembering her son. She recalled his heartbreaking final words at school: *“Please help me or I’m going to die.”*
Amerjeet added, “The sorrow of losing Karan is so deep, it feels like a wound that will never heal. But we hope his story will bring about real change to protect other children.”