Coroner Lydia Brown described the death of 19-year-old cellist Alexander Ngai-Jun Wu while on on tour in Germany, as ‘the most awful, unfortunate incident’ (Picture: REX/Getty)
A top young cellist died after eating a burger on tour in Germany which lead them to go into anaphylactic shock.
Alexander Ngai-Jun Wu, 19, died in August last year after he suffered from several severe allergies, especially to milk products.
He went into shock after ‘mingling’ ingredients at a McDonald’s restaurant in Cologne, western Germany, while on tour with fellow members of the Ealing Youth Orchestra.
Coroner Lydia Brown told West London Coroner’s Court how the ‘outstanding musician’ immediately injected himself with his epipen after reacting to the mixture of foods, which she said had been part of a ‘team-building exercise’.
Despite the efforts of paramedics Alex died in hospital a week later.
Ms Brown said during the inquest there’d been no evidence of reckless behaviour leading to Alex’s death.
She added there were also no grounds to criticise the restaurant over its provision of allergen information.
Ms Brown said: ‘What is tragically apparent is that during the course of that lunchtime, he mingled together several food products from McDonald’s.
‘Some contained dairy food products.
Alex died after mixing ingredients for a burger at the fast food outlet last August (Picture: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
‘I see it as the most awful, unfortunate incident that occurred not due to anyone’s carelessness, but simply as a consequence of an action that went so terribly and unexpectedly wrong.’
She added: ‘I hope his life can be remembered in happier times. This is an unbearable loss.’
According to an online tribute to Alex from family and friends, the young man had chosen to register as an organ donor.
His death allowed five lives to be saved, as well as restoring eyesight for two other people.
The tribute read: ‘Alex, or Jun, wholeheartedly embraced life with tremendous energy, spreading happiness through his music, his character and his humour. He was generous to his friends, family and strangers.
‘Alex managed his health challenges with great maturity and calmness. Despite the limitations these placed on him, he still maintained a buoyant and positive attitude.’
The young and talented cellist was on tour with Ealing Youth Orchestra in Cologne at the time (Picture: Getty Images)
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Ealing Youth Orchestra also said Alex’s fellow musicians had been ‘devasted’ by his sudden death.
A spokesperson for the orchestra said: ‘Alex was an outstanding musician and had enjoyed many previous tours with us.
‘The EYO family has been devastated by this tragedy and we continue to support Alex’s family and the orchestra and tour staff as we come to terms with this.’
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A coroner described the death of 19-year-old cellist Alexander Ngai-Jun Wu while on on tour in Germany as ‘the most awful, unfortunate incident.’
