Inquest into death of teenage girl after eating Pret A Manger baguette to begin

An inquest is due to begin today into the death of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who collapsed while on a British Airways flight, shortly after eating a Pret A Manger baguette.

Ednan-Laperousem, of Fulham, had been travelling from London to Nice with her father when she collapsed on 17 July 2016. Her father administered two epi-pens, but the teenager was declared dead at University Hospital Nice the same day.

The inquest at West London Coroner's Court will hear that Ednan-Laperouse, who had severe food allergies, had eaten an eaten an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette purchased from the main Pret A Manger shop in Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport.

The coroner will hear evidence from both the Pret A Manger store manager on the date Natasha bought the baguette, and the head of safety and compliance at the UK-based sandwich shop chain, which has 500 stores worldwide.

Also giving evidence will be the captain on the British Airways flight and the flight crew who witnessed Natasha's collapse.

Natasha's father Nadim Ednan-Laperouse MBE is the founder and CEO of WOW Toys. The family is being represented by Leigh Day.

In a statement her parents said: "As a family now of three, my wife, son and I are still trying to adjust to life without our beloved girl. It's a daily battle and the pain is indescribable. Everything we say and do is a reminder that she isn't with us; her empty bedroom, school uniform hanging in her wardrobe, her holiday bag packed for her holiday in Nice has never been unpacked. We can't bear to."

A spokesman for Pret A Manger said: "We were deeply saddened to hear about Natasha's tragic death, and our heartfelt thoughts are with her family and friends. We take food allergies and how allergen information is provided to our customers extremely seriously. We will continue to do all that we can to assist the coroner's inquest."

The inquest is expected to last five days.

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