A 12 year old girl died after mistaking a chocolate-covered brazil nut for a strawberry cream when offered a box of sweets at a homework class, an inquest was recently told.

Amber Norman avoided eating nuts because they had brought her out in a rash in the past. But neither she nor her family knew that her allergy could be fatal.

The box was handed round at Quilley School of Engineering, Eastleigh, Hants. Amber unwrapped the sweet and only when she bit into it did she realise it contained a nut.

She felt the effects of an allergic reaction almost immediately and telephoned her stepfather. She was instructed to come home and by the time she arrived she was struggling for breath.

She lost consciousness and her heart stopped. An ambulance was called and she was taken to Southampton General Hospital where she was found to have suffered permanent brain damage.

Five days later Amber's mother agreed that her life support should be switched off. 

There had been no previous cases of anaphylactic shock in Amber and her GP was unaware of her condition.

Amber's mother later said "Parents should get children checked following the slightest thing, a small rash or anything - just make sure they are checked."