A gifted teenage university student with a dairy allergy died after eating a chicken burger marinated in butter milk at a restaurant, an inquest has heard.
Shahida Shahid, 18, had previously needed to have urgent treatment at a restaurant in Birmingham after a previous violent reaction, the court was told.
Shahida was out with friends when she became suddenly ill and collapsed, just minutes after the meal at Almost Famous. A friend administered her epi-pen to combat the allergic reaction and she was rushed to hospital.
But the teenager, studying at Manchester University and a Manchester United season ticket holder, suffered severe brain damage “not compatible with life”, a jury at the inquest was told.
Shahida died in hospital on January 12 2015, three days after eating at the restaurant, the inquest at Manchester Coroner’s Court heard.
Sally Hadfield, assistant deputy coroner for Manchester, outlined the case to the jury of the six women and five men at the start of the hearing, expected to last eight days.
Shahida’s family, her mother and brother, represented by lawyers, sat at the back of the court, behind more lawyers for the restaurant and Manchester City Council, responsible for inspecting restaurants.
The court heard Shahida was in her first year studying a masters in mathematics. She went out for a meal with friends in over the Christmas holidays to discuss their first term at university.
While at Almost Famous she ordered and ate the chicken burger that had been marinated in butter milk.
Although a friend administered her epi-pen that she carried with her, she did not recover after suffering severe brain injuries and died three days later.
Ms Hadfield said the main issues the jury will have to consider is how she came to eat a burger marinated in dairy produce, the butter milk, what was discussed with restaurant staff and evidence about the epi-pen.
