Police are probing the death of a British teenager with a peanut allergy after she died after eating a baklava during a family holiday to Rome.

The 14-year-old, named in Italian media as Skyler, was enjoying the first day of the trip to the Italian capital with her parents and two siblings when she was suddenly taken ill after eating out at a takeaway style restaurant last Thursday. In a tragic twist, a source claims the family chose the restaurant simply because it was near their bed and breakfast.

Paramedics were called just minutes later after the girl fell unconscious after returning to the family's accommodation in Rome's Gianicolense area. She was rushed to San Camillo Hospital just minutes away, but was declared dead on arrival after reportedly suffering an anaphylactic shock en route.

(

Image:

A source told the Mirror: "It's an incredible tragedy. It was the first night of their holiday and they only chose to get some food at the restaurant as it was close to where they were staying. Her parents are devastated and can still barely speak. They can't believe what has happened."

It is understood the girl's father was also later hospitalised after suffering heart problems and had to be kept on a ward for two nights at the same hospital.

Investigators have reportedly opened a manslaughter investigation and interviewed the restaurant owners.

And ASL Roma 3, responsible for health services in that area of the city, has initiated hygiene and health checks, including verifying the presence of allergen lists in the pizza restaurant.

They are understood to be probing whether traces of peanuts, to which the girl was said to be highly-allergic, were present in the baklava dessert.

It is understood investigators are also probing whether traces could have entered a pizza she ate, or if her death is not linked to her peanut allergy.

It is also unknown whether the restaurant's staff had been made aware of the girl's allergy or whether the dessert, said to have been pre-packaged, was marked with any warning about peanuts.

It is also unclear whether she had access to an EpiPen - a device often used to treat anaphylaxis.

A source said: "Given the symptoms she suffered and the timeline it is highly likely her death is linked to her peanut allergy, but it is too early to say anything for sure."

The Mirror understands the family arrived back at their home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on Monday and are now planning to return to Rome to speak to the Italian authorities.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in Italy and are in contact with local authorities”

Anaphylaxis, a serious over-reaction of the immune system in response to an allergen, causes the throat and mouth to swell up, restricting the ability to breathe.

It causes around ten deaths a year in the UK.

In July 2016, Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died aged 15 because she suffered a severe allergic reaction to a baguette from Pret A Manger, which had not disclosed its full ingredients.

Schoolgirl Hannah Jacobs, 13, also died last year after taking a sip from a hot chocolate from Costa Coffee which had been mistakenly made with cow's milk rather than the soya milk her mother had ordered.