British girl, 14, with 'peanut allergy dies after eating pizza in Rome'

A British teenager with a peanut allergy has reportedly died after eating pizza on holiday in Rome. The 14-year-old was on a trip to the Italian city with her parents and two siblings when the tragic incident took place.

The family is understood to have travelled to the capital for a week-long holiday and were staying in the Gianicolense area of the city. They had been planning to visit museums and archaeological sites during their trip.

Last Thursday, the family ate pizza as their first dinner in Rome. The girl - named as Skyler by Italian media - fell ill just 15 minutes after eating at the restaurant.

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They were said to have been at a restaurant, which is near the B&B they were staying at, Mirror reports. Skyler's throat began to tighten, she had difficulty breathing and her heart was pounding.

Other symptoms included chills and tremors throughout her body. According to reports, her parents tried to calm her down and asked staff at the nearby B&B for help.

Emergency services rushed to their accommodation but found the schoolgirl unconscious when they arrived. It is understood they tried to resuscitate her.

The youngster died of anaphylactic shock on her way to San Camillo hospital, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. The family was planning to visit the Vatican Museums the next day before heading to the Colosseum and the Imperial Fora.

Investigators from the Monteverde police station launched an investigation after speaking to the girl's parents, who said was allergic to peanuts. Skyler's family said that she had experienced serious allergic reactions previously.

But she would avoid anything that might include peanuts and carefully read food labels. The family said they would also ask about allergens when in restaurants.

But it is unclear if the restaurant was made aware of her allergy before the tragedy. According to Corriere della Sera, investigators have spoken to the restaurant's owners.

ASL Roma 3, which looks after health services in that district of the city, has begun hygienic and health checks. It is also working to verify the presence of allergen lists in the pizza restaurant.

Investigators said they are looking into whether the allergen was present in the pre-packaged dessert Skyler had. The family has reportedly returned to England.

It is understood Skyler's body will be repatriated once investigations ordered by the Prosecutor's Office are complete. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction which happens very quickly.

It can be caused by food, medicine or insect stings, the NHS says. Symptoms usually start within minutes of coming into contact with something you are allergic to, such as a food, medicine or insect sting.

Symptoms include:

• Swelling of your throat and tongue
• Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast
• Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice
• Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing
• Feeling tired or confused
• Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting
• Skin that feels cold to the touch
• Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet

You may also have a rash that is swollen, raised or itchy. The NHS says you should call for immediately call for medical help if you think you or someone else is having an anaphylactic reaction.

The Mirror has contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for comment.