Jess Prinsloo, a 24-year-old woman, died during a romantic holiday in South Africa with her partner, Craig McKinnon, as a result of an acute dairy allergy. The couple was celebrating their engagement after Craig proposed to her at the God’s Window viewpoint in Mpumalanga on December 27. However, on December 30, Jess came into contact with milk and suffered anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction in which the throat closes up, and died the following day in the hospital.
Craig noted that Jess was careful in managing her allergies, but reports indicate that her allergy medication didn’t work during the reaction. According to Craig, “When Jess passed away, a part of me went with her, but there’s no one to blame for her death.” Jess had suffered from a dairy allergy since she was nine months old and had to be resuscitated after coming into contact with dairy in a curry at age 18.
The young woman suffered the fatal reaction after using a spoon stained with milk to stir her tea, which caused her throat to close up. Craig wrote on social media: “I hold the spoon differently and this is what happened to her.” The couple met in 2019 while at university and moved in together in 2021. Craig said he hasn’t eaten dairy in three years because “it just wasn’t worth the risk.”
After Jess’s death, Craig was charged £3,700 in medical bills and a further £1,200 for the coroner’s fees. The couple’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral costs and expenses. A statement on the page reads: “Our beautiful, fun-loving Jess recently passed away on December 31, 2022.”
Although Jess had many family members in South Africa, she hadn’t returned in six years, and Craig knew there was no better place to propose. “The look on her face said it all,” Craig told the media.
The news of Jess’s death came as a shock to many friends and family who had celebrated her engagement. Jess updated her social media accounts with the news of her engagement on the same day Craig proposed. The next update on her Facebook page was to share the news that she was in critical condition in the hospital.
Jess’s death has highlighted the importance of raising awareness about food allergies and the need to take precautions to prevent accidents. Although allergies are not fatal in many cases, dairy allergies are among the most common and can have serious consequences if not managed properly.
Food allergies are a reality for many people worldwide, and they can be severe and even life-threatening. It is important to take steps to prevent and treat allergic reactions and to educate the public on how to handle situations involving people with food allergies.
Furthermore, Jess Prinsloo’s story highlights the need to be aware of the risks of sharing kitchen utensils when cooking foods containing allergens. Even a small amount of an allergen can be enough to trigger a severe allergic reaction, and it is essential to be cautious when handling utensils that may have come into contact with allergens.
The tragic death of Jess Prinsloo as a result of her acute dairy allergy is a stark reminder of the importance of taking preventative measures to avoid severe allergic reactions, educating the public on how to handle situations involving people with food allergies, and being aware of the risks of sharing kitchen utensils.
