Annie Walton Doyle
A teenager has died after eating chicken and fries on a family vacation.
A promising university student tragically lost her life while on vacation in Morocco after eating chicken and fries.
Lily King, an 18-year-old from the UK, had been celebrating her academic success of a first-year distinction in economics at the University of Exeter by taking a week-long trip to Rabat with her mother, Aicha.
The trip was meant to be a joyous occasion, but it ended in heartbreak due to a series of unfortunate events that unfolded on the final day of their stay.
People have been left heartbroken by the brutal story.
“She looks a lovely girl… very sad to read news like this,” one pens.
A second adds: “Unfortunately waiters can promise you the earth but without education and really understanding the consequences – this is a hard one for all involved.”
“What a tragedy, so sad,” writes a third, while a fourth agrees: “How awful, so sorry this has happened, God bless.”
In remembering Lily, her father highlighted the profound impact she had on those around her.
Described as a ‘shining light’ by her friends and loved ones, Lily was known for her intelligence, caring nature, and determination.
Lily and her mother had visited a local restaurant for dinner, a place they had dined at previously without incident.
Aicha, who is of Moroccan origin and fluent in Arabic, had clearly communicated her daughter’s multiple food allergies to the restaurant staff.
Lily was highly allergic to dairy, fish, shellfish, sesame, and nuts, and her mother was meticulous in ensuring that the meals they ordered adhered to these restrictions.
Despite her health challenges, she excelled academically, achieving top grades and earning a place at a prestigious university.
According to Lily’s father, Michael King, who later spoke to the Metro, his wife was ‘explicit’ about what Lily could and could not consume.
Despite these precautions, the meal that was served turned out to be unsafe.
Lily had ordered a simple dish of grilled chicken and fries, but soon after taking a bite, she began to feel unwell.
She quickly experienced symptoms of an allergic reaction, including difficulty breathing and an itchy throat, which rapidly escalated into nausea and panic.
In a desperate bid to save her daughter, Aicha attempted to use an EpiPen that Lily always carried for emergencies.
However, the situation deteriorated when the restaurant staff allegedly refused to let Aicha leave without paying the bill, which wasted critical time.
Michael King later stated that the delay in leaving the restaurant ‘could have actually saved Lily’s life.’
Aicha recounted the ordeal, explaining how she had pleaded with the waiter in Arabic to be careful with Lily’s meal.
Despite her repeated warnings, the waiter assured her that the vegetables accompanying the meal, which resembled prawns in the dim light, were simply carrots cooked in olive oil.
Believing the meal was safe, Lily took a bite, only for the allergic reaction to set in within minutes.
As Lily’s condition worsened, Aicha immediately administered a dose of Piriton and told her daughter to head to the restroom.
When Lily returned, she was gasping for air and struggling to breathe.
Aicha rushed outside with her daughter, trying to help her breathe better, but realized that she had left her bag inside the restaurant, which contained important items like her passport.
When she went back to retrieve it, she informed the restaurant staff that her daughter was dying but was told to settle the bill first.
By the time Aicha returned to Lily’s side, her daughter had used a second EpiPen, but it had little effect.
With the ambulance taking too long to arrive, Aicha was forced to drive Lily to the hospital herself.
The journey took 30 minutes, during which Lily suffered a heart attack and a catatonic fit, leaving her brain-dead by the time they arrived.
In a heart-wrenching moment, Lily reportedly told her mother: “I love you, goodbye,” before passing away in her arms.
Despite being placed on life support for three days, Lily showed no signs of brain activity, and the difficult decision was made to let her go.
The aftermath of Lily’s death has left her family with many unanswered questions.
Despite the clear indication that her allergic reaction was triggered by the food served at the restaurant, her death certificate simply listed ‘heart attack’ as the cause of death.
Michael King expressed the family’s frustration, saying that they were left in the dark about the progress of any investigation into the restaurant’s responsibility.
Although the police in Morocco had initially launched an investigation, the case was later handed over to a prosecutor, and the family has yet to receive any updates.
Lily was laid to rest in Beaconsfield on July 10, following two autopsies – one in Morocco and another in the UK.
Her passing has left a void in the lives of those who knew her, and her family continues to seek answers and justice for the circumstances that led to her untimely death.
Lily’s family is raising money for other allergy sufferers here.
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