“HE WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE…” — BRITISH TRAVELLER, 24, DIES AFTER FATAL PEANUT ALLERGIC REACTION IN ARGENTINA

Harry James Kitto was travelling through South America with his girlfriend when a simple café stop turned into a nightmare. Despite reportedly being reassured that his food contained no peanuts, the 24-year-old suffered a catastrophic allergic reaction. A later laboratory test found peanut protein in the churro he had eaten.

A young British traveller has died after suffering a severe allergic reaction while visiting a popular café in Buenos Aires, Argentina — a tragedy that has left his family devastated and raised heartbreaking questions about food allergy safety.

Harry James Kitto, from Falmouth, Cornwall, was just 24 when he became critically ill after eating churros and drinking hot chocolate at Café Tortoni, a well-known tourist destination in Argentina’s capital.

He had been travelling across South America with his girlfriend, Naomi Pye, exploring different countries and experiencing new places together.

But on October 30, 2025, their journey took a devastating turn.

HE ASKED WHETHER HIS FOOD CONTAINED PEANUTS

Harry had a severe peanut allergy, so checking the ingredients before eating was essential.

At the café, he and Naomi reportedly asked staff in both English and Spanish whether the churros contained peanuts. According to evidence later presented at an inquest in Cornwall, they were told that they did not.

Believing the food was safe, the couple ordered and began eating.

But Harry soon started to feel unwell. He became concerned that he might be experiencing an allergic reaction.

Naomi asked the café staff again whether the churros contained peanuts. The inquest heard that they were again given a firm reassurance that the food did not contain them.

After eating a second serving, Harry’s condition deteriorated.

What had begun as an ordinary stop during their travels was becoming a medical emergency.

HIS CONDITION RAPIDLY BECAME LIFE-THREATENING

The couple left the café and travelled back towards their accommodation.

During the journey, Harry’s symptoms became increasingly alarming. His lips began to swell, and he struggled to breathe.

Naomi called for emergency assistance and rushed to retrieve his EpiPen, an adrenaline auto-injector used to treat severe allergic reactions.

She administered the medication as the emergency unfolded.

Harry was taken to hospital by ambulance, but his heart stopped for approximately 11 minutes before doctors managed to restart it.

He was admitted to intensive care, where medical staff fought to save his life.

For his loved ones, the following days brought an agonising wait as they hoped he would recover.

Despite the efforts of the medical team, Harry suffered a hypoxic brain injury — damage caused by a lack of oxygen — alongside anaphylactic shock.

He died on November 7, 2025, approximately a week after the incident, surrounded by his family.

 A LABORATORY TEST REVEALED A DEVASTATING DETAIL

During the subsequent inquest, evidence emerged that raised further questions about the food Harry had been served.

After his death, his father and brother visited the same café and ordered the same dish. They also asked staff whether it contained peanuts.

According to the evidence reported from the inquest, they were again told that the food did not contain them, although one member of staff reportedly said they did not know.

The family then arranged for a sample of the churro to be tested at a laboratory.

The result found 20 milligrams of peanut protein per kilogram in the sample.

That finding was especially painful in light of the earlier reassurances Harry and Naomi had reportedly received.

The inquest heard that Harry had specifically raised concerns about peanuts before eating. The coroner ultimately recorded his death as accidental.

The findings have highlighted the potentially devastating consequences of inaccurate or uncertain information about allergens in food.

 “BRAVE, STRONG AND FULL OF LOVE”

As the investigation brought the circumstances of Harry’s death into focus, his family also wanted people to remember the young man behind the headlines.

Harry had been travelling with Naomi, discovering new places and making memories across South America.

His loved ones described him as brave, strong and full of love — qualities they said he continued to demonstrate throughout his final days.

His family faced the heartbreaking task of arranging for his body to be brought home from Argentina. A fundraising campaign attracted thousands of donations to help cover repatriation expenses.

The support reflected the impact of Harry’s death on people moved by his story.

For his family, however, no amount of money or public sympathy could undo the loss of a young man whose life had been cut tragically short.

A TRAGEDY THAT COULD CHANGE HOW PEOPLE THINK ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES

Severe food allergies can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that may develop rapidly and requires emergency treatment.

For people with serious allergies, being able to rely on accurate ingredient and cross-contamination information is critically important.

Harry’s case has brought that issue into sharp focus. The inquest heard that he had asked about peanuts before eating, while laboratory testing later detected peanut protein in a sample of the churro.

His death is a devastating reminder that uncertainty about food ingredients should never be treated casually when a potentially life-threatening allergy is involved.

 A YOUNG LIFE REMEMBERED

Harry James Kitto was only 24 years old.

He had travelled thousands of miles to explore the world with someone he loved. He should have had more adventures, more opportunities and many more years to build the life he imagined.

Instead, his family is left with memories, grief and the painful knowledge that a seemingly ordinary café visit ended in tragedy.

His story is not only about the dangers of a severe allergic reaction. It is also about a young man who was loved deeply, a girlfriend who desperately tried to help him and a family who fought to bring him home.

Rest in peace, Harry James Kitto. You were far too young to be gone, and you will not be forgotten. 💔🕊️

Sources: The Irish Sun; Voice Newspapers; AOL News reporting on the Cornwall inquest.