A “funny and caring” 13-year-old girl died from a suspected anaphylactic reaction to a Costa hot chocolate, an inquest heard. 

Hannah Jacobs, who was severely allergic to dairy products, died on February 8 last year after her mum ordered her a soya milk hot chocolate from Costa in Station Parade, Barking. 

Abimbola Duyile said she even asked staff to clean the cup and steamer, saying: “I’m really sorry for being a pain but my child has a really severe dairy allergy.”   

But Hannah took one sip of the drink then rushed to the toilet and told her mum “that’s not soya milk”. 

Abimbola Duyile said her anger turned to terror as she hurried her daughter to a nearby pharmacy, where she collapsed. 

Hannah was injected with an epi-pen and an ambulance was called but Hannah was pronounced dead soon after she arrived at Newham Hospital. 

An inquest into Hannah’s death began at East London Coroner’s Court on Monday (August 12). 

Ms Duyile said: “Hannah loved life. She was caring and funny. Loud, thoughtful, outspoken and energetic. 

“Hannah had a strong sense of right and wrong. She loved to argue, and if she thought something was unfair she would speak her mind, no matter what, usually to the dismay of her teachers. 

“She had another side of her character as well. She thought a lot about other people. She was always affectionate and always wanted to help.” 

Hannah, who lived in Barking, had severe allergies to dairy, egg, fish and wheat diagnosed when she was a toddler but managed them well throughout her life. 

She rarely ate out but Costa was one of the few places Hannah felt safe to order from, Ms Duyile said. 

On the day of her death Hannah had a dentists appointment at East Street Dental Practice at 11am, but her mum took her to Costa beforehand, the inquest heard. 

Ms Duyile said she ordered two soya milk hot chocolates, one with marshmallows. 

She said she even asked the woman who served her to clean the cup and steamer, and when she got a ‘funny’ look she said: “I’m really sorry for being a pain but my child has a really severe dairy allergy.” 

Ms Duyile and Hannah then walked to the dentist where Hannah took her first sip while sitting in the waiting room. 

She rushed to the toilet, then phoned her mum to tell her she was throwing up and that the drink wasn’t soya milk. 

Ms Duyile said they had no reason to suspect it would be fatal as she had never suffered such a severe reaction before. 

They were called to the dentists office but Ms Duyile said after a few minutes she explained they would have to go to the pharmacy as her daughter was having an allergic reaction. 

The dentist did not enquire more about the reaction or tell Ms Duyile they had an epi-pen on premises, the court heard. 

Ms Duyile said Hannah was very distressed and said her chest was hurting and was very tight. 

They rushed to the pharmacy, around two minutes away, but Hannah collapsed soon after they entered. 

She was given an epi-pen and paramedics soon arrived to give CPR, but after being rushed to Newham Hospital, Hannah was pronounced dead at 1pm. 

Ms Duyile said she will never know the woman Hannah would eventually become but knows she would have been proud, passionate and fierce. 

“She would have achieved so much in this world,” she said. 

“I love my child so much and my heart is broken.” 

The inquest continues.