Sister’s heartbreak after allergy loss of life of British ballet dancer in US

Actress Ciara Baxendale, star of E4 collection My Mad Fat Diary, has paid tribute to her sister who died after consuming an allegedly incorrectly labelled cookie which contained peanuts.

Professional dancer Órla Baxendale, 25, who had moved to America to pursue her dream profession, went into anaphylactic shock after struggling a extreme allergic response to the cookie.

Ciara, 28, described her youthful sister as ‘radiant’ and ‘a dreamer’.

Writing on her official Instagram web page, she mentioned: ‘I’m so honoured to say that this woman is my sister, she was simply so cherished by everybody.

‘She aimed for the celebs and really deeply lived for her goals on daily basis of her life. I’ll by no means cease speaking about my Órla.

‘I felt like she was my twin, my little sidekick. She used to at all times joke and say that she was my mini me, however there isn’t a one like Órla. She was so distinctive and particular, there by no means was anybody like her and there by no means will likely be.

‘I’ll won’t ever ever, so long as I’m on this earth, cease speaking about how radiant, how lovely, how form, how cool, how hilarious, how witty, how vibrant she was. She had a golden contact.

‘Everything about her was magical, she was simply so otherworldly. She seems to be similar to an angel, and I simply can’t imagine that she has gone. I’ll carry her with me at all times, in my coronary heart, and by my aspect. If you met her, you’re fortunate, she was simply such a heat and golden soul, she’s left a path of sunshine behind her and she is going to by no means be forgotten.’

Ciara mentioned it was ‘simply incomprehensible’ that allergy symptoms can take lives and urged folks to teach themselves about anaphylaxis, tips on how to use epipens and tips on how to spot the warning indicators for extreme allergic reactions.

She added: ‘I would not need this to occur to another household, the ache we really feel for her absence we’ll by no means have the phrases for. I like her with my entire total coronary heart and her presence in our lives will likely be missed eternally. I actually hope our little Órla is someplace dancing amongst the celebs.’

The heartfelt tribute was accompanied by a number of household album pictures exhibiting the sisters posing fortunately collectively as youngsters and adults.

Órla died on January 11 after shopping for vanilla Florentine cookies that have been made with peanuts – regardless of being labelled as containing ‘soy nuts’ – from a grocery retailer in New Milford, Connecticut.

She was on the brink of carry out as Alice in a dance firm’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.

Orla attended the personal £4,550-a-term Westholme School in Lancashire and skilled at The Northern Ballet in Leeds and Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham earlier than being awarded a scholarship to prestigious New York college, The Ailey School.

She graduated in May 2021 and went on to be a dancer and mannequin in New York Fashion Week, that includes in Vogue Magazine’s September 2021 version, and was on account of tour the world with dance firm MOMIX, starting with the USA earlier than shifting on to South America, Europe and Asia.

Órla’s mother and father, Simon and Angela Baxendale, have been too upset to remark this night at their £450,000 house in Helmshore, Lancashire.

But in a ready assertion, they mentioned: ‘Órla was really considered one of a sort. She was a fantastic, radiant, courageous soul who at all times believed she would obtain her largest goals – and that is precisely what she did.

‘She danced her means the world over and lived life to the fullest on daily basis.

‘We won’t ever get better from the ache of getting her taken from us so quickly, within the prime of her life.

‘But we’re additionally so proud to name her our daughter and sister, and to have had the privilege of sharing 25 years with such an extremely particular particular person.

‘We have been overwhelmed by the lots of of messages coming in from the world over, from all of the individuals who beloved Órla and can always remember assembly her or seeing her dance.

‘It is obvious that she meant a lot to so many individuals, together with her mesmerising expertise, her cheeky nature and her unimaginable compassion for others

‘The reality is Órla received extra out of life in 25 years than most do in a lifetime, and she is going to now reside on in all our hearts eternally.’

Orla’s different sister, Niamh, a Cambridge graduate, paid tribute to ‘my tiny dancer’.

Writing on her Instagram web page, she wrote: ‘Órla was so cautious and at all times checked the components earlier than consuming something – mislabelling meals can kill.

They household added that it’s ‘incomprehensible’ that allergy symptoms proceed take lives and urged folks to ‘educate yourselves and people round you about anaphylaxis, tips on how to use EpiPens and the early warning indicators for extreme allergic reactions.’

The Vanilla Florentine cookies have subsequently been recalled as a result of packaging not having a peanut allergy warning. 

The Baxendale household earlier issued a heartbreaking warning concerning the significance of correctly labelling meals as they urged folks to donate to an allergy consciousness non-profit.

‘We are all devastated by the lack of our lovely and gifted Órla who was taken from us far too quickly,’ Baxendale’s sister Niamh wrote in an announcement.

‘It’s incomprehensible that allergy symptoms can nonetheless take lives in 2024. Please examine anaphylaxis as you might assist to save lots of somebody’s life someday. 

‘Orla Baxendale’s Facebook web page will likely be memorialized so please do share messages on right here for Órla as we like to learn them.

If you want to please think about donating to Allergy UK in Órla’s reminiscence.

‘Órla was so cautious and at all times checked the components earlier than consuming something – mislabelling meals can kill.’

The candy treats have been manufactured by Cookies United and bought at Stew Leonard’s as a part of a vacation run.

The grocery retailer chain’s CEO has claimed his firm was not notified a few change within the components of the product which added peanuts, one thing Cookies United vehemently disputes.

Stew Leonard Jr., the grocery store’s CEO mentioned in an announcement to Channel 3 information that Cookies United had modified the recipe from soy nuts to peanuts with out notifying the corporate.

The cookies have been then allegedly repackaged and relabelled underneath the Stew Leonard’s branding the place they have been bought in retailer, with none point out of peanuts.  

‘This has by no means occurred at Stew Leonard’s earlier than,’ Leonard mentioned in an announcement. ‘We have very strict meals security practices and considered one of them is having all correct components listed on our labels. 

‘Unfortunately, we’re shopping for these cookies from an organization who by no means instructed us they modified the components. 

‘We bought them in good religion and one buyer was affected. We have been devastated to be taught this information and our household is sending our deepest condolences.’

His account has been hotly contested by Cookies United who declare they did notify the corporate by way of an e mail which was seen by Channel 3 information.

‘It has come to the eye of Cookies United {that a} buyer of Stew Leonard’s has tragically died on account of consuming cookies containing peanuts. Our hearts and condolences are first with the household of this Stew Leonard’s buyer,’ an announcement from the producer mentioned.

‘Unfortunately, contemplating the tragedy of those circumstances, we have to level out that Stew Leonard’s was notified by Cookies United in July of 2023 that this product now comprises peanuts and all merchandise shipped to them have been labelled accordingly.

‘This product is bought underneath the Stew Leonard’s model and repackaged at their services. The incorrect label was created by, and utilized to, their product by Stew Leonard’s.

‘In the 24 hours since Cookies United realized of this tragedy we’ve got been cooperating with the New York State Department of Agriculture and have been knowledgeable we’re in compliance with all relevant guidelines and rules regarding this product.

‘Our deepest sympathies to the household of this Stew Leonard’s buyer.’

Baxendale was born in East Lancashire within the UK and had moved to New York to work as knowledgeable dancer, attaining a scholarship to the distinguished The Ailey School.

The dancer had been within the states for 5 years and was on account of embark on a world tour with dance firm MOMIX. 

She was in Milford, Connecticut getting ready for a task in a dance firm’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland at a social gathering when she ate the cookies.

Attorneys for her household blamed her loss of life on, ‘the gross negligence and reckless conduct of the producer and/or sellers who didn’t correctly establish the contents of the cookie on the packaging’.

‘This failure in correct disclosure has led to this devastating but preventable end result,’ the assertion from Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf mentioned.

‘Her sudden loss isn’t solely a private tragedy for her household and pals but in addition a big loss to the creative group.

‘We stand with Órla’s household on this troublesome time and lengthen our deepest condolences. 

‘They have been overwhelmed and comforted by the outpouring of affection, help, and tributes from world wide. 

‘Órla’s vibrant spirit and her relentless pursuit of excellence in her artwork have left an indelible mark on all who knew her.’

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is advising anybody with a nut allergy to do away with the cookies instantly.

The merchandise have been bought on the Danbury and Newington areas from November 6 to December 31.

Stew Leonard’s is providing prospects who return the cookies a full refund.

Tributes poured into the gifted dancer’s native newspaper the Lancashire Telegraph following information of her loss of life.

‘A radiant drive each on and off the dance ground, she embodied a thirst for all times that was really charming,’ an announcement from Elmhurst Ballet School mentioned.

‘Her authenticity and skill to remain true to herself resonated with all who had the privilege of understanding her, and he or she had a exceptional present for lighting up any room she entered.

‘Her distinctive expertise has left a long-lasting impression, guaranteeing that her legacy as each an artist and a person will likely be fondly remembered at our college.’

‘This previous week, the New York City dance group misplaced a fantastic dancer, avid dreamer, and beloved member of the Steps on Broadway staff, Órla Baxendale,’ New York dance studio, Steps on Broadway, wrote.

While her alma mater The Ailey School mentioned: ‘We are deeply saddened by the premature passing of alumna Órla Baxendale.

‘She had change into an integral a part of the New York dance world, pursuing her ardour, shining her brilliant mild, and doing what she beloved most.

‘Her loss will likely be profoundly felt by her pals, colleagues, and all who knew her. We will keep in mind her for her joyful spirit and boundless expertise. Our ideas are together with her household at this devastating time.’