Asda apologises after balloon arch makes mum throw up

REBECCA LENNOX WAS SHOPPING IN HER LOCAL ASDA WHEN SHE BEGAN FEELING A TIGHTNESS IN HER CHEST AND WAS LEFT STRUGGLING TO BREATHE ELEANOR OVENS and HOWARD LLOYD Regional content editor 15:14,

20 May 2025Updated 15:59, 20 May 2025 A mum was 'almost killed' on her weekly supermarket shop - when Asda allegedly 'ignored her deadly latex allergy'. Rebecca Lennox

was shopping in her local Asda in Hunts Cross, Liverpool, earlier this month (May 1) when she began feeling a tightness in her chest and was left struggling to breathe. The 33-year-old

realised she was standing just metres away from a balloon arch displayed at the superstore's travel stall. Rebecca has suffered with an allergy to latex since she was a child, but the

condition has changed from mild to life-threatening within the last year, leading her to carry around four epi-pens at all times. The mum-of-two soon began to feel dizzy and started to vomit

before her husband quickly drove them home during the allergic reaction in Asda earlier this month. Rebecca says she contacted the store regarding the balloons weeks before when a friend

warned her about the display and claims Asda apologised and assured her they would be removed. However, Rebecca - who works as an emergency medical advisor - says that on her next visit, she

was shocked to see the display was still up and immediately went into anaphylaxis. Rebecca insists the balloons 'could've killed' her and is calling for a blanket ban of

latex decorations in public places. Asda initially denied that any balloons had been on display at the store but eventually admitted they had been and apologised for the

'miscommunication' in the store. Article continues below The supermarket have now assured the customer that there are no balloons instore any more. Rebecca, who lives in Liverpool,

said: "A few weeks ago I went to go into Asda and by coincidence my friend was on her way out and she said there's a balloon arch on the money stall for a deal on. So I went home

and rang the store and tried to make them aware of my allergy. They were very apologetic and said they would get them removed. "Then a few weeks later I walked in and started having a

reaction straight away so I knew there must be balloons somewhere. I started to feel out of breath, I had chest tightness, I was dizzy then started to vomit. I was struggling with breathing

so I sat in the café for a few minutes then told my husband I needed to go home. "It was actually my daughter who said there were balloons in the store. I was really shocked to see it

still up. I had to leave and take two epi-pens and pretty much slept for 13 hours. It could've potentially killed me. It's my local Asda, I'm there all the time." As

Rebecca's symptoms continued to worsen, she was rushed to Whiston Hospital in Prescot, suffering with chest tightness and swelling across her mouth. Luckily, Rebecca has made a full

recovery but said she lives in constant fear of her next encounter with balloons. Rebecca, who's suffered six bouts of anaphylaxis in the last year, said: "I don't want any

money, I just want them not to put balloons up. I'm in constant fear of having another reaction. There's so much awareness out there for nut allergies, but not enough for latex.

Why is a nut allergy more important than an environmental one? Article continues below "I get people saying you can't ban balloons but you 100 per cent can. Latex balloons are one

of the most dangerous, life-threatening things for people with latex allergies. They're just not necessary. You don't have to use latex balloons as decorations. "It affects

every part of my life. I feel like sometimes I'm putting a damper on things but it's terrifying. People don't really understand it. It's not as simple as avoiding places.

Why are latex balloons more important than my life? It sounds dramatic but they could kill me, especially with how frequent they're becoming." An Asda spokesperson said: "We

always want our customers to have a positive experience in our stores, so we're sorry to hear about Rebecca's experience and have apologised for the miscommunication at our Hunts

Cross store. There are currently no balloons on display at the store."