Boy collapses and dies after suffering allergic reaction to pollen while celebrating end of GCSEs in park

Parents speak out over 'heart-wrenching' loss to raise awareness of asthma threat

Joe Dale died after suffering an allergic reaction to pollen while celebrating the end of his exams (Dan Rowlands/SWNS)

A 16-year-old boy collapsed and died after suffering a severe allergic reaction to pollen while in the park with friends.

Joe Dale went to the park in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, to celebrate the end of his GCSEs but suffered a devastating asthma attack while relaxing at a friend's house later in the evening.

He was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness and six days later his parents agreed doctors could switch off his life-support machine.

Joe died on 23 June, 2017 - the day he would have attended his school prom.

Doctors believe his death was caused by a severe asthmatic reaction to pollen, which was extremely high that day and caused his airways to swell up.

It is thought the swelling caused his bronchial tubes to narrow, preventing the teen from being able to breathe properly.

His family have gone public with his story in a bid to warn others about the potentially fatal dangers of the condition.

His mother, Helena Dale, said: "I spent the evening with Joe the day before he died and he was really happy about finishing his GCSEs and looking forward to the summer.

"The next morning he went to a playing fields with his friends to play football and chill out after all the hard work they had put in.

"It was a red hot day, one of the hottest of the year, but we had no idea what kind of effect that would have on his asthma."

Ms Dale, 50, added: "I never believed Joe would die, I thought he'd be okay.

"That week he was in hospital I could have been anywhere on the planet, I was in complete and utter shock.

"It's impossible to put into words what it's like to lose a child like this, it's absolutely heart-wrenching. I have had to bury the life I had with Joe and start a new one, a completely different one.

"If I can prevent another family from going through what we've experienced then I have to do that. I hope I can raise awareness about just how dangerous asthma can be.

"Most people don't think of it as a killer, but it is."

Ms Dale described her son as a "fit and active" boy who played football up to four times a week and often went go-kart racing with his dad Jon, 48.

He began suffering from asthma at the age of five but had only had one asthma attack, when he was 12, before his death years later.

He took a brown inhaler each morning and evening and kept a blue inhaler on him during the day in case of emergency, his mother said.

She added that moments before he collapsed at around 7.30pm, Joe got up from his seat and puffed on his blue inhaler.

He then fell to the floor unconscious and an ambulance was called before Joe's friend contacted his parents to tell them what had happened.

Ms Dale saw paramedics working on her son when she arrived at the friend's house.

He was rushed to Barnsley Hospital and immediately admitted to intensive care, where doctors spent days attempting to save his life.

On 23 June a consultant told his parents there was nothing more they could do.

In the wake of his death, the couple decided to donate Joe's organs and have since learned they were used to save the lives of three other people, including a father and a teenager.

Ms Dale said: "We knew he would have wanted that, he was such a kind and thoughtful person.

"It does help to know his death wasn’t for nothing."

When the GCSE results were released later in summer 2017, Joe's family discovered he had achieved great results in all his subjects - including some A*s.

He was due to go into Penistone Grammar’s sixth form a few weeks later and had plans to go to university.

The Dale family, including brother Matt, 14, and sister Abbie, 25, were supported by Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in the wake of Joe's death.

The hospice enables families to stay with their children after they die in specialist suites.

Joe Dale's parents Jon and Helena and siblings Matthew and Abbie Dale want to raise awareness of the dangers of asthma (Dan Rowlands / SWNS.com)

The allowed the Dale family to stay with Joe for a week after he passed away, which his mother helped them come to terms with the tragedy.

Abbie said: "It doesn't seem real that he’s gone, I don't think it ever will.

"I miss my little brother so much but I feel thankful for the amazing 16 years I had growing up with him.

"I hope our story can raise enough awareness to prevent another family from experiencing the heartache that will remain with us every day."

SWNS