Girl, 4, stops breathing on flight after 'selfish' passenger eats nuts despite warnings

A LITTLE girl who suffers from severe allergies stopped breathing on a flight after a "selfish" passenger opened a packet of nuts despite several warnings.

Fae Platten stopped breathing in a Ryanair flightLittle Fae went into an anaphylactic shock after a passenger opened a packet of nuts[CASCADE/ENP/GETTY]

Fae Platten, four, complained to her mum her "face hurt" before she went into an anaphylactic shock and could only be revived by an emergency injection.

The toddler was also left with a swollen tongue and blistered lips.

After being saved by medically-trained passengers she was rushed to hospital.

Passengers on the Ryanair flight were warned three times by staff not to open packets of nuts as the recycled air could spark an allergic reaction.

The incident happened as the toddler returned from a family holiday.

A man sat four rows away who ate the nuts has since been banned from flying by Ryanair.

It is claimed he was involved in an altercation with a passenger sat in front of him over the packet of nuts, but allegedly said "he'd open them if he wanted to".

Fae's mother Katy said: "They said there was a child on board with a very severe nut allergy, so no nuts purchased in the airport should be consumed and they would be selling no nuts on the flight.

"But 20 minutes into the flight Fae said: 'Mummy, my face hurts'.

"She started scratching her checks so I took her to the front and said I think somebody has opened nuts. He was incredibly selfish."

Passengers were warned three times not to open packets of nutsFae pictured with her father on the outbaound Ryanair flight [ENP]

For a few moments Fae stopped breathing. Her airway was compromised and she went unconscious

Katy Platten

The 30-year-old said cabin crew gave little Fae a flannel with ice to help cool her face.

An announcement asking for medical help saw a nurse and an ambulance driver onboard come to the family's aid and inject the child with a Jext "epi" pen.

Her parents carry the medical devices in case of emergency and it delivers doses of adrenaline. It is commonly used for the treatment of anaphylaxis.

Mrs Platten, from West Bergholt in Essex, added: "For a few moments Fae stopped breathing. Her airway was compromised and she went unconscious."

After the Jext pen was administered Fae regained consciousness and was taken by ambulance to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, when the plane landed.

She was also travelling with her father Dean, her six-year-old sister Izzy and her mother's sister's family when the incident happened on August 5.

The child, who next month will start primary school, was released later that day and her mother posted the dramatic story on Facebook.

Mother Katy Platten blasted the passenger as Mother Katy Platten wrote a Facebook status about her story which was shared 2,000 times [CASCADE]

In the status, which was shared around 2,000 times, Mrs Platten said: "If you hear an announcement, then don't ignore it.

"It was a very lucky escape. It could have been a tragedy - Fae's Jext pen saved her life and brought her out of anaphylaxis.

"Fae doesn't want to fly ever again - she has understandably had some night terrors since the incident.

"But someone was obviously watching over us that day."

Police told Mrs Platten the man who opened the packet of nuts was in his late thirties or forties and of Zimbabwean origin.

He was travelling with his wife and two teenage children and it is understood he told officers he did not speak good English.

He was also allegedly involved in an argument with a passenger sat next to him.

Mrs Platten said: "The police told us that the man sitting in front of him told him not to open the nuts, but he just said he'd open them if he wanted to."

The passenger has been banned from all Ryanair flights for two years.

A spokesman for the airline said: "Ryanair can confirm that the passenger involved in the incident has been banned for two years. Ryanair does not impose life bans."

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