Joseph Higginson stopped eating the curry after a single mouthful (Picture: MEN Media)
A mechanic died a week after he ate a single mouthful of the butter chicken curry he had ordered from an Indian takeaway, an inquest has heard.
Joseph Higginson, 27, was allergic to nuts and almonds – but had previously tolerated them and had enjoyed the same dish before, his family said.
Rochdale Coroner’s Court heard that Mala, the Indian restaurant on Lumb Carr Road in Holcombe that prepared the meal, had ‘clearly indicated’ almonds were used to make it.
Greater Manchester Police investigated in line with procedure, but found no fault or cause for concern on the restaurant’s part.
At the inquest into Mr Higginson’s death, a coroner recorded a conclusion of misadventure.
His family are now using the tragedy as an opportunity to get the word out about the severity of allergies.
Sufferers should be aware that their body’s tolerance can change over the course of their lifetime, they said.
Mr Higginson’s sister Emily said her brother didn’t always take his allergies seriously – despite the fact he had been hospitalised eight months before he died in a separate incident.
Coroner Julie Mitchell said Mr Higginson’s family could not have done more to try and save his life (Picture: MEN Media)
The inquest heard that during a family meal on December 28 2022, Mr Higginson ate a starter before eating a mouthful of the butter chicken.
He immediately stood up and rushed to the kitchen sink before going upstairs.
His sister administered an EpiPen to his thigh, but nothing happened and he collapsed. His family dialled 999 and gave him adrenaline.
When paramedics arrived, they performed CPR on Mr Higginson before taking him to the Royal Bolton Hospital. He died six days later, on January 4 last year.
The inquest heard that six months before his death, in June 2022, Mr Higginson visited an allergist who confirmed he was he was allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, almonds and coconuts using a skin prick test.
Pathologist Dr Philip Lumb told the coroner’s court that almonds were ‘the most likely trigger’ for the ‘immediate allergic reaction’ the 27-year-old suffered as soon as he put the curry in his mouth.
Following the inquest, Emily thanked those involved in his medical care and said: ‘People with allergies should always take the situation seriously.
‘It is not something that can be taken for granted – the severity can change throughout a person’s lifetime.’
She said her brother’s heart and kidneys had been donated to those in need, adding: ‘We know they are alive and well and that the transplants were successful.’
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