Why Seconds Count: Jack Irvine Anaphylaxis Story
The biggest mistake in an allergic emergency is delaying adrenaline. Jack's story shows why.
By Britt Brennan, REACHAU | Updated 16 October 2026
In almost every anaphylaxis session I run, I talk about Jack Irvine.
Not to frighten people. I share it because once you understand what happened to Jack, you understand why hesitation in an allergic emergency can be deadly.
Quick answer
Jack Irvine was 15, with a known nut allergy and asthma. In September 2012 he ate a macadamia cookie at a junior karting camp in Victoria. When he developed wheezing and shortness of breath, it was treated as asthma. His EpiPen stayed in his father's car. He died six days later. If someone with a known allergy and asthma has sudden breathing difficulty, give adrenaline first, call 000, then give the asthma reliever.
What you will learn
- What happened to Jack and what the Coroner found
- Why anaphylaxis is so easily confused with asthma
- Why adrenaline comes first when both are possible
- The pattern seen in other allergic emergencies
- What first aid training teaches people to do differently
This article draws on the public finding of the Coroners Court of Victoria (Coroner Audrey Jamieson, 29 April 2016). Jack's family asked that he be referred to by his first name.
1The Day Everything Changed
Jack was 15, from regional Victoria, with chronic asthma and multiple confirmed allergies, including macadamia and other tree nuts and peanut. In September 2012 he attended a junior karting development camp in Melbourne.
At lunch on 24 September 2012, Jack chose a cookie from a catered platter. He believed it was white chocolate. It was a macadamia cookie.
Risk factors the Court heard about
- A very strong reaction to macadamia nuts on testing
- Asthma alongside the allergy
- Exercise close to eating the allergen
- The effect of cooking on the nut protein, which can make it more allergenic
These factors came from expert evidence at the inquest. Counsel described the combination as a "perfect storm". That was counsel's description in submissions, not a finding by the Coroner.
2When Breathing Trouble Looks Like Asthma
About 30 to 40 minutes after eating the cookie, Jack began to wheeze and became short of breath. He shouted to his father to get an ambulance. His father gave him his Ventolin, but it had no effect.
Jack's EpiPen was not used. It was in his father's car. About 10 minutes later Jack collapsed and became unresponsive. CPR was started and an ambulance was called. Paramedics gave adrenaline and restarted his circulation, and he was taken to hospital. Jack died six days later.
The Court heard that his father knew the signs of Jack's asthma. He had not seen anaphylaxis before in Jack, and the swelling and tingling lips from earlier reactions were not there. He did not connect the symptoms with the cookie, and believed Jack was having a severe asthma attack.
The distinction that changes everything
- Ventolin may relieve wheezing caused by asthma.
- Ventolin does not treat anaphylaxis.
- Adrenaline is the first-line medicine for anaphylaxis.
This is why our anaphylaxis training spends so much time on this exact scenario. Most people have never thought through what they would do in those first 30 seconds. Our advanced course, HLTAID014 Provide Advanced First Aid, covers it in more depth.
3What the Coroner Found
Coroner Audrey Jamieson found that Jack died from brain injury after cardiac arrest, caused by anaphylaxis. On the balance of probabilities, the source was the macadamia cookie.
| Finding | What it meant |
|---|---|
| Lost opportunities to educate the camp | The camp was not given Jack's Action Plan or medication details, and had no policies for managing children with food allergies. |
| Food was not catered for known allergies | There was no meaningful attempt to cater for participants who had listed food allergies. |
| Anaphylaxis was not considered | The Coroner described it as regrettable that no one considered an allergic reaction, because prompt adrenaline gives the best opportunity for survival. |
| A lost opportunity | The Coroner could not say the outcome would have been different, but found that not giving the readily available EpiPen was a lost opportunity to give potentially lifesaving medication. |
| No criticism of the first responders | The Coroner made no criticism of Jack's father or the others who tried to help. |
The lesson.
If someone has a known food allergy and asthma and develops sudden breathing difficulty, adrenaline should be given first. The Coroner recommended that the Action Plan for Anaphylaxis state this clearly, followed by the asthma reliever.
The Coroner also recommended better education resources for families of children with asthma and anaphylaxis risk, and for teenagers learning to manage their own food allergy.
Read more about the errors that cost time in our article on common anaphylaxis first aid mistakes.
4Why This Matters Across Western Australia
I teach in schools, workplaces, sporting clubs and regional communities across Western Australia. The same fear comes up constantly.
"What if I get it wrong?"
Here is the reality. Delaying adrenaline because of uncertainty is one of the biggest risks in an anaphylaxis emergency, not giving it too early. Expert evidence at Jack's inquest was that if a person with both conditions has breathing difficulty and an EpiPen is available, it should be given, and that if it turns out to be asthma instead, the adrenaline will do the person no harm.
This matters even more in regional and remote Western Australia, where ambulance response times can be longer. Our HLTAID013 Provide First Aid in Remote or Isolated Areas course is designed for those communities.
| The instinct | The trained response |
|---|---|
| They have asthma and they are wheezing. Reach for the Ventolin first and see if that helps. | Possible allergen exposure plus breathing difficulty means suspected anaphylaxis. Adrenaline first. Call 000. Then the asthma reliever if needed. |
5The Pattern Seen Again and Again
Coronial findings into fatal allergic reactions often show similar themes:
| Recurring theme | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Anaphylaxis mistaken for asthma | The wrong treatment is started first and time is lost. |
| Adrenaline delayed | Every minute without adrenaline lets the reaction progress. |
| Symptoms escalate quickly | Anaphylaxis does not plateau and wait. It can progress fast. |
| Hesitation from uncertainty | People who are unsure often wait. Training builds the confidence to act. |
That is why education matters. Not panic. Not fear. Clear understanding and calm, confident action. See how this is taught in our anaphylaxis training overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
If it turns out not to be anaphylaxis, can an EpiPen still be used safely?
Expert evidence at Jack's inquest was that adrenaline from an EpiPen will do a person no harm if it turns out to be a severe asthma attack and not anaphylaxis. Delaying adrenaline in true anaphylaxis carries far greater risk.
How quickly can anaphylaxis develop after allergen exposure?
Often within minutes, but sometimes later. In Jack's case, symptoms began about 30 to 40 minutes after eating the cookie. This is one reason people with known severe allergies should always carry their adrenaline and know how to use it.
Why can exercise make an allergic reaction worse?
Exercise can speed up and intensify reactions in some people. Exercise close to eating the allergen was one of the risk factors described to the Court in Jack's case.
What is the difference between anaphylaxis and asthma symptoms?
Both can cause wheezing and breathing difficulty. Anaphylaxis usually follows an allergen exposure and may involve hives, swelling, vomiting or collapse, but sometimes only breathing symptoms show. If someone with a known food allergy has sudden breathing difficulty, treat it as anaphylaxis.
What should you do first in a suspected anaphylaxis emergency?
Lay the person flat or let them sit if breathing is hard, give adrenaline with the auto-injector, and call 000. If the person also has asthma and is struggling to breathe, give the asthma reliever after the adrenaline. Follow the person's Action Plan and ASCIA guidance.
Why I Keep Sharing Stories Like This
I teach from real cases because those stories stay with people long after the course ends. The information sticks, and decision-making becomes instinct rather than panic.
Families like Jack's share these stories so that the next person survives. Sometimes the difference comes down to one decision in the first few minutes. Awareness saves lives. Training saves lives.
Support anaphylaxis awareness
Help fund better education, advocacy and awareness around severe allergies across Australia.
Donate to the Anaphylaxis Awareness FundraiserThe question worth sitting with
If someone near you went into anaphylaxis right now, would you know the difference between that and an asthma attack? Would you know to reach for adrenaline first? Training answers both questions before the emergency, not during it.
REACHAU first aid training focuses on understanding what to do, why it matters and how to act when someone needs help.
View upcoming first aid sessionsTraining and Assessment is delivered by Britt at Regional Education and Career Help Australia on behalf of ABC First Aid RTO 3399.
This article is general first aid information and does not replace a first aid course or medical advice. In an emergency, call 000.
