Manslaughter Investigation Launched After British Teen with Peanut Allergy Dies on Rome Holiday

Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation following the death of a 14-year-old British girl who suffered anaphylactic shock while on holiday with her family in Rome.

The girl’s father was also hospitalized due to heart complications from the traumatic event. This was the family’s first meal after arriving in Rome, and they had planned visits to the Colosseum and Vatican Museums in the days ahead.

A representative from the British embassy confirmed they are supporting the family and coordinating with local authorities.

As standard procedure in Italy, the manslaughter inquiry is currently against unnamed individuals. Police will examine the restaurant for peanut or dried fruit residues.

This case follows a similar tragedy nine years ago when Cameron Wahid, a seven-year-old British boy with a dairy allergy, died after eating pasta on a family holiday on the Amalfi Coast. In Wahid’s case, a waiter was convicted of manslaughter in 2019, although the chef was acquitted, and the family was awarded compensation.

Wahid’s mother called his passing “the worst day of our lives.”

The teenager, who had a known peanut allergy, had just dined with her family at a pizzeria in Rome’s Gianicolense district. Reports from Italian media suggest that traces of peanut allergen in dried fruit served with dessert may have triggered her reaction. The incident occurred approximately 15 minutes after the family returned to their hotel, where the girl went into severe shock. She passed away shortly after being admitted to San Camillo hospital.