Tributes paid to 'beautiful boy' who died after eating slice of takeaway pizza

A man with a peanut allergy who ate a slice of a pizza he had ordered via Deliveroo told paramedics he was about to die before he fell profoundly unconscious, it has been revealed.

An inquest has heard how James Atkinson, 23, ordered a chicken tikka masala pizza, chips and Indian dishes with his flatmate.The hearing in Newcastle was told how the computer programmer had searched the internet for likely ingredients in certain foods.

Mr Atkinson was said to have eaten some chips and less than one slice of the pizza before he realised something was wrong as he became rapidly unwell.The former Newcastle University student, who is originally from Leeds, rang for an ambulance while his flatmate looked for his EpiPen, unsuccessfully.

Craig Hassall KC, for the family, said when the paramedics arrived, Mr Atkinson reportedly told them as he struggled to breathe that he was going to die.Home Office pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton outlined the background to her inquiry into his death, and said Mr Atkinson was "gasping for air" when the ambulance crew arrived.