Latest news with #ExeterUniversity
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Lily King's parents call for caution after allergy death on holiday
The parents of a teenage girl who died in Morocco from an allergic reaction have urged others to be extra cautious eating out while on King, 18, from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, had gone for a drink with her mum Aicha, who comes from Morocco and speaks fluent Arabic."The restaurant staff said we had to eat something, and I told them she had allergies and we would rather not eat, but they insisted it would be fine. I told them to be careful and they didn't listen," Aicha told the inquest at Milton Keynes Coroner's Court this week confirmed Lily died on 23 June 2024 from a cardio-respiratory arrest caused by anaphylaxis and triggered by food. "Every time you eat out, especially abroad, it's Russian roulette," said Lily's dad Michael."Most restaurants in the UK are very careful, but many other countries don't have compulsory training programmes for staff around allergies. "Someone needs to warn people who are going on holiday to other countries – not only Morocco – to be very, very wary of eating out. Especially if you don't have the language," he said. Lily had a catalogue of allergies for most of her life, the most severe being seafood, nuts and leaving home to study economics at Exeter University, her parents said the allergies became worse."She wanted to be like her friends – a normal person. That led to her eating out more, but she was always very careful and carried her EpiPen and antihistamine suffered her first ever anaphylactic shock that year while at a festival, and was treated by St John afterwards she travelled to Morocco with her mum to visit family and celebrate completing her first year at chose a restaurant that Lily loved and had been to before. Her mother said she told restaurant staff three times about Lily's food allergies and what she could not eat, before ordering chicken and meal arrived with other food and a sauce on the plate."She literally took a tiny piece of food – we think it was carrot - and tasted it. She got an itchy tongue which she always had before a reaction."She took a Piriton (antihistamine tablet) and used her EpiPen. She said 'I'm going outside to get some air'," explained mum rushed out to join her and gave a second EpiPen injection."She was being very, very strong, because she said, 'Don't stress mum, you know I love you. I love you. I'm very sorry, I'm going', and then she passed out," she said.A trip to the hospital was then delayed by two issues, the family said. The ambulance did not arrive, and Aicha said the restaurant insisted she paid for the food before leaving in her nephew's car."The next day, she came around temporarily but then had a seizure. Later they did a brain scan, but there was no activity," said Michael. His daughter passed away in hospital four days after her visit to the restaurant."We never believed it would come to this. We're devastated."She meant the world to us, she was our baby. We had 18 marvellous years with her," he said. The family said it had tried to take the restaurant to court in order to raise the issue at a national level."We only want the Moroccan government to realise how important it is, and for their hospitality industry to recognise that restaurants should be told to educate their staff."I care about other families going through the same thing," said and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, whose daughter Natasha died in 2016 from an allergic reaction to a baguette, said: "Lily's family did everything they could to keep her safe. "Yet on this occasion even though Lily and her mother flagged her allergies, it still went dreadfully wrong."Lily's death highlights how dangerous food allergies can be and the potential risks of travelling abroad with food allergies." What are the rules in the UK? The UK Food Standards Agency states that food retailers and caterers are required to provide allergen information, as set out in food must:Provide allergen information to the consumer for both prepacked and non-prepacked food and drinkHandle and manage food allergens effectively in food preparationMake sure that staff receive training on allergens Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Selfie becomes parents' last memory of daughter
Ahmedabad: At the Umiya Mata temple in Gandhinagar, grief hung heavy as mourners gathered to remember Deepanshi Bhadouriya, who died in the AI 171 crash just days after rescheduling her return to London. The 21-year-old wanted to spend some more time with her family. The daughter of deputy superintendent S S Bhadouriya, Deepanshi was a student of law at Exeter University. One of their close family friends recalls her as a brilliant student who "represented her college across six countries and was also sponsored by her college to go skydiving in Dubai at 20". Deepanshi had flown home on March 27 to surprise her father on his birthday. "She was to return on May 20, but postponed her departure to June 12 to celebrate her parents' wedding anniversary on June 11," her friend said. "She wanted to celebrate the day with her father and mother Madhulika," recalled another family friend, voice breaking. He added, "The entire day she was with her family. Everyone had turned up for the celebrations. I cannot forget that day." The promise she made to her father haunts those who knew her: "Papa, once I complete my studies, you can always leave this job. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Vysvětlení, proč milovníci červených vín tento Primitivo výběr milují Koupit nyní Undo I shall take care of everything," Her friends remember her as a bold, cheerful girl who was her father's strength and her brother Shaurya's pride. At Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, she took a final selfie with her parents before boarding the AI 171 Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Minutes after take-off, the aircraft carrying 242 passengers crashed into Atulyam complex in Meghaninagar. By the time her family reached home, the news had already shattered their world.
Western Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Retired banker reaches Scotland after running 50 marathons along the coast
Reaching the border marks the quarter-point of his goal to run 200 marathons in 200 days, while researchers at the University of Exeter monitor the impact on his body. Steve James, 65, set off from Topsham, Devon on April 16 and will end his feat there after running anticlockwise around the coast for seven months. Steve James, 65, is being monitored by researchers at the University of Exeter during his marathon feat (University of Exeter/PA) He currently runs for around six hours each day, occasionally staying with his wife in their camper van or in a variety of accommodations. Mr James, who lives and trains on Dartmoor, is being supported during his challenge by his wife and their five children. 'I'm so proud to have made it to over 50 days. I've made it all the way from Exeter along the coast to the Scottish border, a total of 1,380 miles,' he said. 'There have been a few bumps along the way, but I've overcome them all and am that much stronger because of it and ready to take on the next stage. 'I'm really looking forward to the many facets of the Scottish coastline and meeting the people of this beautiful country.' Mr James has already faced his share of hardships on his journey, running through harsh weather conditions, closed footpaths, severely blistered feet and a gout flareup resulting in a trip to A&E. The Exeter research team assessed him before his departure and continues to monitor him throughout this challenge, while he captures his own measurements daily for them to analyse. Steve James, 65, will be completing the equivalent of 200 marathons in 200 days (Steve James/Exeter University/PA) They are studying his calorie intake, blood, oxygen and muscle measurements to examine the effect of such an extreme sport on the body. Mr James said: 'By the end of this challenge, the scientists will have more insight into how far a 65-year-old person can push their body. 'Of all the challenges I've done, this is the most extreme and the biggest stretch.' At this stage, the team has seen no adverse effects of this high-endurance challenge in the blood samples, which are being used to measure hormone fluctuations, inflammation and overall health. He has lost weight, although this was a likely result that researchers anticipated due to his extreme calorie output. Dr Freyja Haigh, nutritional physiology researcher at the University of Exeter, said: 'We're currently tracking Steve's energy intake and expenditure in order to assess any changes in body mass, which is to be expected with this very physical challenge. 'We're unsure at the moment if Steve's weight loss is from fat or muscle mass. 'I'm hoping to visit him in the near future to take muscle thickness measurements at multiple points on the body to compare with those we took before he left. 'Having reached this point would be an incredible achievement for anyone, but doing it in your 60s is a whole different ballgame. 'What Steve is doing really challenges the stereotypes of ageing and redefines what's possible later in life. 'It's also fascinating in terms of the science – Steve gives us a real insight into how this type of endurance affects the body of an older person. 'It's been such a privilege to work with him so far and I can't wait to see how he gets on in this next stage.' Throughout his life, Mr James has loved physical challenges, from taking part in Ten Tors while at school to cycling around the world in 220 days in 2019. The record for running the British coastline is held by Nick Butter, who completed the feat in 128 days at the age of 31. But Mr James is the first person over 60 to take on the feat.
Glasgow Times
11-06-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Retired banker reaches Scotland after running 50 marathons along the coast
Reaching the border marks the quarter-point of his goal to run 200 marathons in 200 days, while researchers at the University of Exeter monitor the impact on his body. Steve James, 65, set off from Topsham, Devon on April 16 and will end his feat there after running anticlockwise around the coast for seven months. Steve James, 65, is being monitored by researchers at the University of Exeter during his marathon feat (University of Exeter/PA) He currently runs for around six hours each day, occasionally staying with his wife in their camper van or in a variety of accommodations. Mr James, who lives and trains on Dartmoor, is being supported during his challenge by his wife and their five children. 'I'm so proud to have made it to over 50 days. I've made it all the way from Exeter along the coast to the Scottish border, a total of 1,380 miles,' he said. 'There have been a few bumps along the way, but I've overcome them all and am that much stronger because of it and ready to take on the next stage. 'I'm really looking forward to the many facets of the Scottish coastline and meeting the people of this beautiful country.' Mr James has already faced his share of hardships on his journey, running through harsh weather conditions, closed footpaths, severely blistered feet and a gout flareup resulting in a trip to A&E. The Exeter research team assessed him before his departure and continues to monitor him throughout this challenge, while he captures his own measurements daily for them to analyse. Steve James, 65, will be completing the equivalent of 200 marathons in 200 days (Steve James/Exeter University/PA) They are studying his calorie intake, blood, oxygen and muscle measurements to examine the effect of such an extreme sport on the body. Mr James said: 'By the end of this challenge, the scientists will have more insight into how far a 65-year-old person can push their body. 'Of all the challenges I've done, this is the most extreme and the biggest stretch.' At this stage, the team has seen no adverse effects of this high-endurance challenge in the blood samples, which are being used to measure hormone fluctuations, inflammation and overall health. He has lost weight, although this was a likely result that researchers anticipated due to his extreme calorie output. Dr Freyja Haigh, nutritional physiology researcher at the University of Exeter, said: 'We're currently tracking Steve's energy intake and expenditure in order to assess any changes in body mass, which is to be expected with this very physical challenge. 'We're unsure at the moment if Steve's weight loss is from fat or muscle mass. 'I'm hoping to visit him in the near future to take muscle thickness measurements at multiple points on the body to compare with those we took before he left. 'Having reached this point would be an incredible achievement for anyone, but doing it in your 60s is a whole different ballgame. 'What Steve is doing really challenges the stereotypes of ageing and redefines what's possible later in life. 'It's also fascinating in terms of the science – Steve gives us a real insight into how this type of endurance affects the body of an older person. 'It's been such a privilege to work with him so far and I can't wait to see how he gets on in this next stage.' Throughout his life, Mr James has loved physical challenges, from taking part in Ten Tors while at school to cycling around the world in 220 days in 2019. The record for running the British coastline is held by Nick Butter, who completed the feat in 128 days at the age of 31. But Mr James is the first person over 60 to take on the feat.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists fear Britain's entire food chain is contaminated as study finds microplastics in bugs
Plastic pollution is harming slugs, beetles, snails and earthworms, new research has found, raising fears Britain's entire food chain has been contaminated. Researchers found more than one in ten bugs had fragments of plastic in their stomachs, causing harmful chemicals to be passed on to larger animals that feed on them, like birds and hedgehogs. The study, by scientists at Sussex and Exeter universities, analysed more than 580 bug samples from 51 sites across Sussex. Microplastics were found in almost 12 per cent of bugs with the highest levels recorded in earthworms (30 per cent) and slugs and snails (24 per cent). Polyester, most likely from clothes, was the most common type of plastic found in the invertebrates tested. Researchers suspected these plastic fibres came from dried human sewage sludge which is used as fertiliser by some farmers and can contain fibres from washing machines. One common garden black beetle was found with a 4.5mm long piece of nylon inside it- that's a quarter of its body length. Although animals that feed on decaying plant matter had the highest rates of plastic, carnivorous insects, such as ladybirds, were also affected. Researchers say the findings raise fresh concerns about the long-term effects of plastic pollution and its impact on biodiversity and that it should no longer be seen as solely a marine issue. 'We were surprised by just how widespread this plastic contamination is,' said lead author Emily Thrift, Ecology Doctoral Tutor at the University of Sussex. 'This is the first study to find plastics consistently turning up across an entire community of land invertebrates. 'Similar plastic types were found in hedgehog faeces in our earlier research, and they seem to be entering the diet of birds, mammals, and reptiles via their invertebrate prey.' One previous study on insects from 2024 revealed ingesting plastic can lead to stunted growth, reduced fertility and changes in liver, kidney, and stomach function in various species, raising alarm among conservationists. In another 2020 study published in the journal Global Change Biology, dippers, a type of small bird, were found to be ingesting about 200 plastic particles a day from the insects they eat. Three in four of the fragments found in the birds were less than 0.5mm in size but were up several millimetres in length. Professor Fiona Mathews, Environmental Biologist at the University of Sussex, stressed that microplastics are now found in every level of the food chain, from bugs to mammals. She said: 'Attention is currently focused on litter as the main source of contamination, but these findings suggest multiple sources ranging from clothing to paint.' The researchers say their work, which spans six invertebrate groups and four levels of the food chain, highlights the need to research how these different plastics are damaging the environment and implement stronger measures to limit plastic pollution.
