Current:Home > FinanceDancer Órla Baxendale’s Final Moments Revealed Before Eating Cookie That Killed Her -LondonCapital
Dancer Órla Baxendale’s Final Moments Revealed Before Eating Cookie That Killed Her
View
Date:2025-04-18 16:52:56
New details are emerging about Órla Baxendale's final moments.
The New York dancer, who died Jan. 11 at age 25, took precautions to prevent her death, according to her family attorney.
At a social gathering earlier this month, Baxendale went into anaphylactic shock due to a severe allergic reaction from eating a cookie that contained peanuts—although the label did not disclose the ingredient, her lawyer said.
"Because Orla was so vigilant and so careful with everything she touched, she actually Googled 'soy nut,' which is on the package," her attorney Marijo Adimey told ABC News, "wanting to make sure that a soy nut wasn't a nut." (Soy nuts are soybeans, not tree nuts.)
After she took a bite of Stew Leonard's Vanilla Florentine Cookie, Baxendale began having a reaction. Her friends rushed her to the hospital and used her EpiPen, per the outlet, but she sadly didn't make it.
Stew Leonard Jr.—the CEO of the supermarket chain that sold the desserts—said they were not informed that the supplier had changed the recipe from soy nuts to peanuts.
In response, the manufacturer Cookies United publicly shared a note the company allegedly sent out months prior, informing vendors they were adding peanuts as an ingredient in the holiday cookies.
"Unfortunately, considering the tragedy of these circumstances, we need to point out that Stew Leonard's was notified by Cookies United in July of 2023 that this product now contains peanuts and all products shipped to them have been labeled accordingly," Cookies United said in a Jan. 23 press release. "This product is sold under the Stew Leonard's brand and repackaged at their facilities. The incorrect label was created by, and applied to, their product by Stew Leonard's."
The supermarket recalled mislabeled cookies that had been sold from Nov. 6 to Dec. 31 at their stores in Danbury and Newington, Conn.
Baxendale's family has not spoken out about the incident, but have been communicating their grief through their lawyer.
"They're too distraught to speak," Adimey added. "They want this story out so it doesn't happen again."
Baxendale, a U.K. native, is being remembered by the dance community for her lively personality and talent for performing.
"For someone to leave us so young and so soon at the height of career is a tragedy," her dance instructor Guillermo Asca told ABC. "She was vibrant, dynamic, kooky, someone who didn't take herself seriously but took work seriously."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (9)
Related
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Why is Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa so hated? The reasons are pretty dumb.
- Workers exposed to extreme heat have no consistent protection in the US
- 8 US Marines remain in hospital after fiery aircraft crash killed 3 in Australia
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Spanish soccer chief says he'll fight until the end rather than resign over unsolicited kiss
- Many big US cities now answer mental health crisis calls with civilian teams -- not police
- Tropical Storm Idalia: Cars may stop working mid-evacuation due to fuel contamination
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Tish Cyrus shares photos from 'fairytale' wedding to Dominic Purcell at daughter Miley's home
Ranking
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- NASCAR playoffs: Meet the 16 drivers who will compete for the 2023 Cup Series championship
- Simone Biles prioritizes safety over scores. Gymnastics officials should do same | Opinion
- Biden's Climate Moves
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Florida shooting victim planned to spend Saturday with his daughter. He was killed before he could.
- Chris Buescher wins NASCAR's regular-season finale, Bubba Wallace claims last playoff spot
- Illegal logging thrives in Mexico City’s forest-covered boroughs, as locals strive to plant trees
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
12-year-old girl killed on couch after gunshots fired into Florida home
Cleveland Browns lose Jakeem Grant Sr. to leg injury vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Lionel Messi will miss 'at least' three games this season with Inter Miami, coach says
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
An evacuation order finds few followers in northeast Ukraine despite Russia’s push to retake region
Jacksonville killings refocus attention on the city’s racist past and the struggle to move on
How Simone Biles captured her record eighth national title at US gymnastics championships