Parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after eating Pret baguette, were comforted by Duchess of York on flight back to UK

In a tearful interview, Natasha Ednan-Laperouse's father revealed he was racked with guilt that he was able to be by his daughter's hospital bedside but her mother was not
Olivia Tobin1 October 2018

The parents of a teenager who died after eating a Pret A Manger baguette have revealed they were comforted by the Duchess of York in the days after her death.

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse's father Nadim also tearfully revealed how he was racked with guilty that he was able to be at his daughter's bedside in hospital before she died but that her mother was not.

The 15-year-old’s parents appeared on ITV's This Morning on Monday and spoke about the heartbreaking final moments with their daughter.

They also revealed that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, comforted them on their flight back to the UK following their daughter's death.

Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse are interviewed on ITV's This Morning about their daughter's death
ITV

Presenters Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield comforted Natasha's father when he became tearful during the interview.

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15 with her brother Alex and parents Nadim and Tanya
PA

Natasha, from Fulham, collapsed on a British Airways flight from Heathrow to Nice after eating an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette that contained sesame, which she was allergic to.

The Fulham teen had been accompanied by her father and best friend as they were travelling to Nice for a summer holiday.

The parents said Ms Ferguson was "wonderful"
PA Wire/PA Images

After eating the sandwich on board the flight, Natasha suffered an allergic reaction and died in hospital later.

Her father recalled how he and his wife, Tanya, had to make the journey back to the UK with their daughter's body and that the Duchess of York tried to comfort them in their lowest point.

Mrs Ednan-Laperouse said: “We were the first allowed on to the plane, because of what had happened, and we had our heads down as other passengers were coming on.

“We were right at the front and suddenly from behind someone grabbed my arm and said ‘Oh my goodness, I’ve heard what’s happened to you both and I’m so sorry’”.

Mrs Ednan-Laperouse said she “immediately” recognised it was Ms Ferguson, and went on to praise how “wonderful” she had been in comforting the grieving parents.

The Duchess of York arrives at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
PA Wire/PA Images

Ms Ferguson, she added, had learned about the parent’s loss after asking a staff member why they looked so sad in the departure lounge.

“She was so heartfelt and wanted to help us out in any way she could”, she added.

In an inquest into Natasha’s death, a coroner found that an allergen that she was allergic to was not listed as an ingredient on the sandwich’s labelling.

Her father has revealed the heartache he feels at not being able to save her, despite administering two epi pens to her.

He said: “I think as any parent would know, you can’t imagine your child is going to die in front of you, you don’t bury your children, that’s not the way it should work.

“She died with me and I think a sense of terrible guilt that was racking me is that I was the one who was with her, it wasn’t mummy.

“Not that it should be the other way round, but it’s just a terrible pain. If a parent is anything, a parent is an ultimate carer for their child and would do anything possible for them.”

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, died after eating a Pret a Manger baguette on a flight
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse

Mrs Ednan-Laperouse added that she tried desperately to make it to Nice to see her daughter, but could not make it in time because of a flight delay.

Instead, she had to say goodbye to Natasha over the phone, she said.

She said: “I got a call from [Natasha’s father] Nad at about 7 o clock saying you’ve got to say goodbye to her. You’ve got to do it quickly.

“I don’t know how you do it, but you do. That was it and I just fell down.”

The couple said they hope they can make a new law in Natasha’s name.

Speaking to Radio 4’s Today program, she said: “The law does need to be changed, society needs to be aware that people live who are poisoned by these foods."

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