When an Allergy Does Not Look Familiar: Lessons from Jeremy Webb's Inquest
When an Allergy Does Not Look Familiar: Lessons from Jeremy Webb's Inquest
What a New South Wales coronial finding teaches us about delayed allergic reactions, asthma overlap and passing on the history you know.
By Britt Brennan, REACHAU | 13 November 2026
Most first aid courses teach the classic picture of anaphylaxis. A person eats a food they know they are allergic to, and within minutes they have hives, swelling and difficulty breathing.
Real life is not always that tidy. This article looks at a published New South Wales coronial finding about a 16 year old boy whose allergy was unusual, delayed and easy to mistake for asthma. His family asked for the inquest to raise awareness, and this article is written with respect for Jeremy and for them.
What the coroner found
What the finding says
The inquest into the death of Jeremy Webb was heard in November 2025, and the Deputy State Coroner delivered the finding on 26 February 2026 in Lidcombe, NSW. Jeremy was 16. He had asthma all his life and an allergy to mammalian meat, linked to tick bites, with reactions to red meat from about age 10. He died on 11 June 2022 at Gosford Hospital. The coroner found the cause of death was anaphylaxis due to mammalian meat allergy after a tick bite, causing an acute exacerbation of asthma that progressed to status asthmaticus.
On the evening of 10 June 2022, Jeremy was camping with friends. At about 9pm he ate beef sausages and marshmallows. Some time between about 9.30pm and 10.50pm he vomited and became short of breath. He ran to a nearby road and asked people in a campervan to call an ambulance, then collapsed. His friends gave CPR until ambulance officers arrived at 11.26pm, and resuscitation continued until he was declared at 12.29am.
The coroner made no criticism of his friends. She noted that the first dose of adrenaline was given about half an hour after symptoms began, that delay in adrenaline is linked with fatal outcomes in anaphylaxis, and that there is no guarantee earlier adrenaline would have changed the outcome.
An earlier hospital visit in April 2021 had been diagnosed as an asthma flare, with no recommendation to look into allergy. An immunology expert described that as a missed opportunity, and the local health district accepted that, knowing what it knows now, he would have been referred for review.
The three recommendations were all to the Central Coast Local Health District. They were about adding information on this allergy to emergency department education, considering updates to its allergy procedure, and considering a training module for emergency registrars. None of them is directed at first aiders, schools or the community.
Everything else in this article is my teaching reflection. It is not a finding of the coroner.
Why this case is worth learning from
Three details stand out for anyone who might be the first on the scene.
The reaction came late. The finding records that reactions to this allergy typically occur 3 to 6 hours after eating, and can be shorter in some cases. The coroner accepted this background. ANZCOR guidance also notes that onset of a severe reaction can range from minutes to hours. We often assume it will be quick, and that can make us look in the wrong place.
The trigger was easy to miss. The finding records that triggers can include non-meat items such as gelatine in marshmallows. A person or their friends may not link a reaction to something they ate earlier in the day.
Asthma and anaphylaxis overlap. The finding says they commonly occur together and can trigger each other. A person who is struggling to breathe may be having an asthma attack, an allergic reaction or both.
Please note that the finding discusses coastal NSW and Queensland. It does not say this allergy occurs in Western Australia, and I am not claiming it does. The first aid lessons apply wherever you are.
What to look for
ANZCOR Guideline 9.2.7 says anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and symptoms are highly variable. Signs can include:
- difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze or a persistent cough
- tightness in the throat or difficulty talking
- collapse or feeling faint
- abdominal pain and vomiting
- hives or redness, though these are not always present
Do not wait for a rash. If a person with a known allergy or asthma is becoming short of breath, think about both.
What to do
ANZCOR guidance for a suspected severe allergic reaction includes these key steps:
- Remove or stop further exposure to the trigger if you can.
- Lay the person flat, or let them sit if breathing is difficult. Do not make them stand or walk.
- Use their adrenaline autoinjector straight away if they have one, following the device instructions and their action plan. Early adrenaline is the priority.
- Call an ambulance. In Australia, that means 000.
- If they have wheeze or breathing symptoms, an asthma reliever can be given as well. If someone with asthma and a known allergy may have been exposed and suddenly has trouble breathing, give the adrenaline autoinjector first, then their asthma reliever.
- If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR with 30 compressions and 2 breaths and use an AED when it arrives.
If the person has an action plan, use it, but do not let finding it delay treatment or calling for help.
Say what you know
ANZCOR notes that the diagnosis of anaphylaxis is largely based on history and findings. That means what you know matters.
When ambulance officers arrive, give them a short, clear summary:
- what the person ate or was exposed to, and when
- when symptoms started and how they changed
- any known allergies, asthma or tick bites
- what you have done and at what time
You do not need to diagnose. Your job is to describe what you saw and what you did. It is a small thing that can help the clinicians who take over.
A question for your group
If a friend became short of breath hours after a meal, would we think of allergy as well as asthma, and who would tell the paramedics what they ate?
If you or your family live with a rare or unusual allergy
These are my suggestions, not medical advice. Talk to your own doctor about them.
- Ask whether you should have a written action plan and an adrenaline autoinjector.
- Tell the people you spend time with what the allergy is, and what to do.
- Keep your autoinjector with you, in date, and not left in a hot car.
- If a reaction looks like asthma but the trigger is unclear, mention allergy to the treating team.
Looking after yourself afterwards
Friends and bystanders in an emergency like this carry a heavy load. It is normal to replay it and to wonder what could have been different. Our guide on looking after yourself after giving first aid explains what is common, what helps and when it is worth seeing a GP.
Frequently asked questions
Can anaphylaxis happen hours after eating?
Yes. ANZCOR guidance notes that onset can range from minutes to hours. The finding records that with this allergy, reactions typically occur 3 to 6 hours after eating.
What if I am not sure whether it is asthma or anaphylaxis?
If someone with asthma and a known allergy may have been exposed and suddenly has trouble breathing, give the adrenaline autoinjector first, then their asthma reliever. Call an ambulance either way.
Does a person need hives to be having anaphylaxis?
No. Symptoms are highly variable, and a rash is not always present. Look for difficult breathing, throat tightness, collapse and vomiting, especially after a possible trigger.
Should I wait for an ambulance before using an autoinjector?
No. Early adrenaline is the priority. Use the autoinjector as soon as a severe reaction is suspected and call an ambulance at the same time.
What should I tell the paramedics?
Tell them what the person ate or was exposed to and when, when symptoms began, any known allergies or asthma, and what you have done. Keep it short and factual.
Did the coroner say first aiders or schools need to change anything?
No. All three recommendations were directed to one health district in NSW. This article draws first aid lessons from the case, and those are my own suggestions.
Sources and current guidance
- Coronial finding: Inquest into the death of Jeremy Webb, Coroners Court of NSW
- ANZCOR Guideline 9.2.7, First aid management of anaphylaxis
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.
Related reading
- Max McKenzie inquest: anaphylaxis and asthma lessons
- DRSABCD: the first aid action plan
- After the emergency: looking after yourself when you helped
This article shares learning points from a published coronial finding and current ANZCOR guidance. It is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace an anaphylaxis action plan from a doctor or hands-on training. The recommendations in the finding were directed to one health service in NSW. In an emergency, call 000.
