Rhiannon Ingle
One mum whose teen son died from a severe allergic reaction to pollen after celebrating the end of his exams with friends has issued a heartbreaking warning to fellow parents that 'pollen allergies aren't taken seriously enough'.
Helena Dale, 56, lost her then 16-year-old son, Joe, after he went out to the park with some friends to celebrate finishing his GCSEs during the height of summer.
The grieving mother described Joe as a 'fit and active' boy who played football up to four times a week and often went go-kart racing with his dad, Jon, 54, a graphic designer.
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Despite suffering from asthma since the age of five, Joe had only had one asthma attack when he was 12, before his death four years later.
Helena, who works in admin, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said he took a puff on a 'brown inhaler' - to reduce airway inflammation - each morning and evening and kept a 'blue inhaler' - which relax airways- on him during the day in case of an emergency.
On June 23, 2017, after spending time with friends at the park, at around 7.30pm, Joe suffered a devastating asthma attack and lost consciousness while at a friend's house later that evening.
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He got up from his seat and puffed on his blue inhaler, but then then fell to the floor unconscious, and an ambulance was called before Joe's friend contacted Helena and Jon to tell them what had happened.
He was rushed to Barnsley Hospital and immediately admitted to intensive care, where doctors spent days attempting to save his life, however, Joe tragically never regained consciousness.
Six days later, his parents made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life-support machine on June 23, 2017 - the day of his school prom.
Doctors believe his cause of death was a severe asthmatic reaction to pollen, which was extremely high that day, and can cause airways to swell up for sufferers of the condition.
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It's believed the swelling caused Joe's bronchial tubes to narrow - preventing him from being able to breathe properly and resulting in him falling unconscious.
In the wake of the tragedy, his parents decided to donate Joe's organs and they have since learned they were used to save three other people - including a father and a teenager.
Helena said: "We knew he would have wanted that, he was such a kind and thoughtful person. It does help to know his death wasn't for nothing."
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When the GCSE results were released that summer, Joe's family discovered he had achieved great results in all his subjects - including some A*s.
He was due to go into Penistone Grammar Sixth Form a few weeks later and had plans to go to university afterwards too.
Nearly eight years on, Helena is sharing Joe's story to help warn others to be 'be vigilant' ahead of the summer months.
Helena said: "There needs to be more awareness raised around pollen allergies. They're not taken seriously enough.
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"I never believed Joe would die, I thought he'd be OK. It's impossible to put into words what it's like to lose a child like this - it's absolutely heart-wrenching."
She continued to say that seeing Joe's friends 'get jobs and girlfriends' makes her think he 'should be here doing the same', adding: "It's nice to talk about Joe and use his story to raise awareness, but it's just as painful because we're still navigating life without him."
Helena said that, this September, Joe would have been 25.
"It hurts that he isn't here," the mum continued. "To anyone who has pollen allergies - severe or not - be vigilant this summer.
"Make smart choices with outdoor exposure and always take your medication and or an inhaler everywhere.
"Joe's story is a tragic reminder that pollen allergies are serious."
For more information and advice, please visit www.asthmaandlung.org.uk
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.