EpiPen plea after dad of four dies from wasp sting

A bereaved family is urging everyone with known allergies to carry an EpiPen after a dad of four died from a wasp sting.

Eamonn Hogan had no idea he had the severe allergy that claimed his life after being stung in his van on the school run home and going into anaphylactic shock June 13 last year.

His youngest daughter Alexandra jumped to action after her father collapsed on the side of the road by alerting emergency services who rallied the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance to his aid.

READ MORE: Farmer and dog rescued from mountain after quad bike accident

READ MORE: Meet the NI clergyman also serving as a paramedic

But the Kilcoo husband and father tragically died in hospital two days later despite their best efforts and help from bystanders who gave him CPR until emergency teams arrived.

Eamonn's wife Corrina said it has been "a very difficult year" since losing him but after visiting the Air Ambulance, to see the helicopter and meet one of its pilots.

She added: "We lost Eamonn so suddenly. We are grateful that Eamonn had every possible chance and that me and our four children had a little time at hospital to be with him to say goodbye.

"Eamonn didn’t know that he had a wasp/bee sting allergy; we would also like to encourage anyone who has a known allergy to carry your EpiPen as this can be the difference between life and death.”

The family presented the Air Ambulance charity with £1,000 raised in Eamonn’s memory which will go a long way to ensuring the medical team can reach a future patient.

Corrina made special thanks to her colleagues at the Department for Communities' Make the Call for raising a lot of the money, bystanders who stopped to help her husband and all of the emergency services and staff in ICU for their compassion, dignity and vital care.

Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising, said: "It was lovely to meet with the Hogan family and our heartfelt thoughts continue to be with them, wishing them strength in their grief.

"We are all humbled that they have been able to think of others, giving hope to a future patient and family who need the services of Air Ambulance. It is only with continued support that the charity is able to play its part in sustaining this service, with a fundraising need of almost £7,000 every day. We would like to thank everyone who contributed in Eamonn’s memory for their kindness."

The charity Air Ambulance NI, in partnership with NIAS, provides the HEMS for Northern Ireland. The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day.

The HEMS team attend patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care direct to the casualty with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs. The aircraft can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately 25 minutes. A total of £2.5million needs to be raised via fundraising to keep the service operational.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What's On newsletter.