What started as a celebration quickly spiraled into tragedy.
Aicha King and her daughter Lily travelled to Rabat, Morocco, in June 2024 to visit family and celebrate Lily’s first-year university results.
Like any protective parent of a child with severe allergies, Aicha came prepared — even filling a suitcase with safe foods.
But despite years of careful planning and vigilance, one moment changed everything.
Living with Life-Threatening Allergies
Lily, 18, had been diagnosed with multiple food allergies at just two and a half — to fish, seafood, nuts, sesame, milk, and eggs.
Her asthma and eczema added to the complexity.
While she had reactions before, none had ever required a hospital trip — until one scary incident at a festival in Exeter in January 2024.
After eating a burger, Lily experienced anaphylaxis for the first time.
That terrifying moment made her family realize just how life-threatening her condition could be.
Extreme Caution on Holiday
For their five-day trip, Aicha cooked every meal at her mother’s home to avoid hotel food and ensured Lily never had to rely on restaurants.
Aicha even avoided tea — that’s how strict she was.
But on their last night, Lily received some exciting news: she had passed her exams with top marks. She wanted to celebrate.
They chose a familiar restaurant — one they’d safely visited before — and Lily, full of joy, posted a TikTok video just before leaving.
The Moment Everything Changed
At the restaurant, Aicha and Lily, both fluent in Arabic, clearly explained Lily’s allergies.
But the food came with unexpected items. Lily reassured her mum and took a tiny bite. Her tongue tingled immediately.
She took an antihistamine, then used her EpiPen — both steps they’d rehearsed countless times.
But it wasn’t enough.
As Lily began to struggle for air, she used her second EpiPen. Aicha called an ambulance, but the help never came in time.
Delays That Cost Everything
Aicha dashed back into the restaurant to grab her bag — only to be stopped by the waiter who demanded she pay the bill. Outside, Lily was deteriorating fast.
She gasped, told her mum she loved her, and collapsed.
Her cousins rushed her to a nearby hospital where CPR was performed — but shockingly, the doctor demanded a cheque before continuing treatment.
Despite Aicha’s pleas, valuable minutes were lost.
Lily never regained consciousness. Four days later, her parents made the heartbreaking decision to let her go.
A Grief That Won’t Fade
A year on, Aicha visits Lily’s grave daily and wears her daughter’s clothes.
Michael, her father, says they’re haunted by the thought that this didn’t have to happen. They blame the restaurant, the healthcare system, and themselves.
They’ve donated £10,000 to allergy research and are pushing for accountability in Morocco.
The Dangerous Reality of Travelling with Allergies
Lily’s story mirrors several other recent cases where British travellers with food allergies died abroad.
Language barriers, poor medical infrastructure, and unfamiliar ingredients all make travel risky.
What Experts Urge Allergy Sufferers to Do
Professor Helen Brough and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation recommend travelers carry two adrenaline auto-injectors, learn emergency numbers, avoid high-risk eateries, and always have translated allergy cards on hand.
Wearing a medical alert bracelet can also be life-saving.
Promising Treatments Are Emerging
There’s growing hope in oral immunotherapy, where people gradually build tolerance to allergens.
Clinical trials in the UK, including those funded by the Natasha Foundation, are giving hope to many families.
A Mother’s Final Words
Aicha still can’t believe her daughter is gone. “She was dancing one minute, and the next she was gone,” she says.
The family’s mission now is clear — to spread awareness, to demand justice, and to make sure no one else has to live this nightmare.