11-Year-Old Boy Dies After Lunch on German School Trip; Possible Allergic Reaction Investigated

An 11-year-old boy has died during a school trip in Aerzen, in the German state of Lower Saxony. After a shared lunch he had trouble breathing and lost consciousness, and efforts by paramedics and teachers to save him failed. German prosecutors are now examining whether negligent conduct by teachers contributed to the child's death.

What happened

According to Bild.de, the incident took place on 18 June at about 1:58 p.m., while the boy and his classmates were at a school recreation site. Roughly 20 minutes earlier, pupils and teachers had eaten lunch together. The boy complained of shortness of breath and soon lost consciousness.

Teachers began resuscitation at once, emergency services were called, and a helicopter was sent to the scene. The boy was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m.

The investigation

Preliminary autopsy findings indicate a severe allergic reaction. It has not yet been definitively confirmed that the boy's allergy to cow's milk caused his death; an allergist's opinion is still needed to establish the exact cause. Investigators have so far found no other possible indications of the cause of death.

Particular attention is being paid to the fact that the boy had an adrenaline auto-injector, or adrenaline pen, with him. The device is used during a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylactic shock, and giving adrenaline promptly can save a life. In this case the injector was not used.

Investigators must establish what happened after lunch, how the boy's condition was assessed, and why the auto-injector was not used.

Support for pupils

Teachers were supervising about 50 fourth-grade pupils at the time. Afterwards the children were separated from the rescue efforts, and crisis psychologists and emergency pastoral care specialists arrived to support pupils and staff. The investigation continues, and the final conclusions on the cause of death are not yet known.