A 16-year-old boy in Italy died minutes after eating ice cream, despite choosing a dairy-free option due to his severe milk allergy. Adriano D'Orsi and his friends stopped at their usual gelateria in Casoria on May 16 after an evening out.
After a few mouthfuls, Adriano showed signs of a severe respiratory reaction and begged his friends for help. They rushed him to his father Mauro D'Orsi's home, where the father administered cortisone to relieve allergy symptoms, but it had no effect. When emergency services arrived, Adriano was unconscious and could not be revived.
Adriano was allergic to milk proteins and had gone into anaphylactic shock. His family said he was always careful to avoid milk products. He is believed to have eaten dairy-free fruit ice cream, but traces of milk may have contaminated it via the scoop or machine.
His mother, Antonietta Esposito, told local media that Adriano always read labels and had previously been directed to lactose-free tubs at the shop. Police have seized several tubs of ice cream as part of an investigation, and a post-mortem will determine the exact cause of death.
Adriano, a third-year student at a nautical institute, dreamed of becoming a ship captain. His mother paid tribute, calling him a 'wonderful boy' and 'perfect son'.
