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

He was travelling across South America with his girlfriend, discovering new places and making memories. But one stop at a famous Buenos Aires café ended in a tragedy that his family says should never be forgotten.

Harry James Kitto, a 24-year-old man from Falmouth, Cornwall, died after suffering a catastrophic allergic reaction while eating churros and drinking hot chocolate at a café in Argentina.

At an inquest in Cornwall, his girlfriend, Naomi Pye, described how they had repeatedly asked staff whether the food contained peanuts — the ingredient Harry was severely allergic to.

According to evidence presented at the hearing, they were repeatedly reassured that it did not.

A subsequent laboratory test on a churro sample found peanut protein, raising heartbreaking questions about what had happened that day.

A DREAM TRIP THAT TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE

Harry had been travelling around South America with Naomi, visiting countries including Mexico, Guatemala and Peru before arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The couple stopped at Café Tortoni, a popular tourist destination known for its traditional atmosphere and refreshments.

Before ordering, they asked staff in both English and Spanish whether the churros contained peanuts. They were reportedly given a firm “no.”

But after taking a bite, Harry became concerned that the food might contain nuts.

Naomi asked the staff again, and the couple were once more reassured that it was safe.

According to evidence heard at the inquest, Harry subsequently ate another serving. He began feeling seriously unwell, although his symptoms appeared to improve temporarily.

The couple then made their way back to their accommodation.

What happened next would change their lives forever.

HIS LIPS SWELLED AS HE STRUGGLED TO BREATHE

While leaving the underground railway, Harry’s lips began to swell and he struggled to breathe.

Realising the seriousness of the situation, he asked Naomi to get his EpiPen — an emergency auto-injector used to deliver adrenaline during a severe allergic reaction.

Naomi rushed back to their accommodation to retrieve it and returned to find a crowd gathered around Harry, who had lost consciousness.

She administered the injection as emergency services were called.

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

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

Despite their efforts, Harry suffered severe brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen.

He died on November 7, 2025, following a week-long battle in hospital.

He was just 24 years old.

 THE FAMILY’S SEARCH FOR ANSWERS

In the days following Harry’s death, his family sought to establish whether the food he had eaten contained peanuts.

His father and brother reportedly visited Café Tortoni and ordered the same food. When they asked about the ingredients, they again received assurances that peanuts were not present.

The family then arranged for a churro sample to be tested by a laboratory.

The inquest heard that the sample contained 20 milligrams of peanut protein per kilogram.

For a person with a severe peanut allergy, accidental exposure can trigger anaphylaxis — a potentially life-threatening reaction that may develop rapidly and affect breathing and circulation.

The laboratory finding provided important evidence about the food, although it does not by itself establish exactly how the contamination occurred or determine legal responsibility.

For Harry’s loved ones, the discovery added another painful dimension to a loss that had already devastated them.

They had been on an adventure together, asking questions because they understood the danger of his allergy. Now, they were left trying to understand how the situation had ended so tragically.

 “BRAVE, STRONG, AND FULL OF LOVE”

After Harry died, his family paid tribute to the young man they loved.

In a statement shared during the family’s fundraising appeal, they described the extraordinary determination he had shown throughout his final days.

“For over a week, he showed extraordinary strength and determination — the same strength that made everyone who knew him so proud.”

They continued by explaining that, despite the doctors’ efforts and Harry’s fight to survive, the medical team had confirmed that he was brain-dead and could not recover.

“Harry passed quietly with his family around him. Our hearts are broken beyond words.”

His loved ones remembered him as brave, strong and full of love — a young man whose life had been filled with possibility.

The family raised approximately £71,500 through around 2,000 donations to help with the costs of bringing Harry’s body home from Argentina.

Their fundraising appeal also reflected the support of people moved by the tragedy and the family’s determination to honour his memory.

 WHAT DID THE INQUEST CONCLUDE?

At Cornwall Coroner’s Court, Assistant Coroner Emma Hillson recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

The inquest heard that Harry had believed the food was safe after asking about its ingredients and receiving reassurances from café staff.

The hearing brought together the events leading to his fatal allergic reaction, the emergency treatment he received and the later laboratory findings.

The evidence highlighted the potentially devastating consequences of inaccurate information about food ingredients for someone living with a severe allergy.

However, the accidental-death conclusion does not, by itself, establish that a particular person or business was legally responsible for what happened.

 A TRAGEDY THAT CARRIES A WARNING

Harry’s story is more than the loss of a young traveller far from home. It is a devastating reminder of how vulnerable people with severe food allergies can be when information about ingredients is incomplete or inaccurate.

For those with serious allergies, even a small amount of an allergen may pose a danger. When symptoms such as swelling or difficulty breathing begin, anaphylaxis must be treated as a medical emergency.

Harry and Naomi had tried to take precautions by asking questions before eating. His family’s subsequent investigation uncovered peanut protein in a sample of the food — a finding that makes the outcome all the more heartbreaking.

A young man who had set out to explore the world never returned home as planned.

He leaves behind a grieving family, a girlfriend who fought to help him and friends whose memories of him will remain long after this tragedy.

Harry was only 24. His life was full of promise, and his loss is a heartbreaking reminder that food-allergy safety can never be taken lightly.