Heathrow seizes nan's lifesaver meds leaving her terrified on 8-hour flight home
A grandmother who had her life-saving medication taken off her at airport security said she almost missed her flight and was terrified she'd die on the eight-hour flight home.
Judy Freud had been flying from Tel Aviv to New York when she stopped in transit at London's Heathrow Airport with her husband Chaim.
As seasoned travellers with dual citizenship, the pair often fly between Israel and the United States, having family and businesses in both countries.
But their indirect flight with Virgin Atlantic last Tuesday meant they had a stop-over in London and they were sent through security.
Judy placed her liquid medication along with her Epipens for a series of severe nut allergies, in their see-through bag but the bottle of Benadryl was confiscated by the over-zealous staff.
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Speaking to the Mirror about her ordeal Judy said: "I put the liquids in the clear bag and they pulled our bag out to search it completely.
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The married pair were feaful (Supplied)
Judy had her medication take away (Supplied)"They said to us that the liquid is the problem, and I told them its my medication for my severe nut allergy, but they were not happy as I didn't have a letter linking the Benadryl to my Epipens, so they said we can't let this through.
"I explained that I take the Benadryl and if that doesn't work I use the epipen, if that doesn't work they're going to have to land the plane."
The 52-year-old saleswoman quickly thought to contact her doctor in Tel Aviv who helpfully sent over her medical records to show the staff, but it was in Hebrew and although the husband and wife were happy to translate, their solution was again rejected by the airport staff.
The security team tested the liquid and said everything was fine with it, but due to it being over 100mls they were confiscating it and advised Judy to go to Boots and buy some more.
"I was terrified, I have flown many, many times and this is the first time this has happened to me," Judy said.
"I told them I was very uncomfortable travelling without my medication and my husband begged them to help us."
Judy and Chaim asked staff to allow the medication through (Supplied)Judy and Chaim went to Boots but as they feared the pharmacist confirmed the UK version of the Benadryl has a different formulation to their US one.
Judy said Chaim was so worried about his wife, he questioned whether they should take the connecting flight home, but Julie chose to not eat anything during the journey to reduce her risk of ingesting allergens.
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She added: "I'm 52, I've travelled many times and I know what it is like to live with a food allergy.
"I was scared to get on the plane and my husband was terrified too. Thank God nothing happened."
She said she had spoken out as Heathrow needs to understand what it did wrong as this was a serious and upsetting incident. She added that she was fearful for her return flight back through the terminal at the end of the month.
She also shared her concerns with No Nut Traveler, a non-profit organisation working to improve the safety and quality of life both in the air and on the ground for individuals with food allergies.
The married couple questioned whether to get on the flight (Supplied)No Nut Traveler founder Lianne Mandelbaum told the Mirror: "I have received reports over the years of passengers with food allergies facing similar situations.
"My recommendations to allergic travellers has always included bringing a letter from a physician and a signed emergency action plan for treatment of an allergic reaction.
"The letter should confirm the food allergy and the need to carry medications including liquids and epinephrine auto-injectors.
"It is critical to not put medications in packed luggage in the event they are needed to treat an in-flight reaction. This is what makes security confiscating medication so concerning."
She added: "That being said, security staff with no medical backgrounds making important decisions on what medications are allowed is a very slippery slope.
"The passenger did have medical documents that stated the need for an auto-injector so it makes no sense to me that the Benadryl was confiscated.
"It is not ok to put the burden on the allergic passenger in a different country to replace necessary medication in the airport.
"She also revealed that she was treated in a humiliating manner by staff and this is a scenario I see all too often with food allergies.
"Clearly education of all airport staff is needed."
A Heathrow spokesman told the Mirror: “We regret the anxiety this passenger experienced during their journey through the airport.
"Unfortunately over the counter medications over 100ml cannot pass through security control points, in line with government guidelines for keeping passengers safe in the air.
"Our teams do not have the discretion to overrule these guidelines and we encourage passengers to check our website in advance of travelling and speak to our contact centre or a colleague in the terminals if they have any questions.”
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