Benedict Blythe’s allergies were no secret—his school had a care plan. Yet in December 2021, the five-year-old died after drinking oat milk that may have been cross-contaminated with cow’s milk.
This week’s inquest revealed a cascade of failures: staff prepared his milk in the wrong location, didn’t properly communicate his allergy plan, and delayed using his EpiPen. “He should have been safe,” his mother, Helen, said tearfully. “This was preventable.”
Benedict had already survived two severe reactions before his death. His family now pushes for systemic change, using #ProtectPupilsWithAllergies to demand better safeguards.
Meanwhile, in Indiana, another family grieves four-year-old Maverick Flinn, killed in a farming accident. Though their stories differ, both tragedies reveal the same truth: children’s safety must never be left to chance.
