Orla Baxendale, a renowned dancer based in New York City, passed away on January 11, 2024. She was 25 years old at the time of her demise.
Orla Baxendale Cause of Death
Órla Baxendale tragically passed away on January 11 due to a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylactic shock, which was triggered by consuming mislabeled cookies. These cookies, sold at Stew Leonard’s, contained peanuts, a fact that was not disclosed on the product’s packaging.
In response to this unfortunate incident, Stew Leonard’s, the supermarket chain, promptly issued a recall for approximately 500 packages of the Vanilla Florentine Cookie. These cookies were sold between November 6 and December 31 at their stores in Danbury and Newington, Connecticut, as reported by the Associated Press.
The lawyer representing Órla Baxendale’s family has asserted that this medical emergency was a result of “gross negligence and reckless conduct” on the part of the manufacturer or seller. Allegedly, they failed to accurately disclose the cookie’s contents on the packaging.
Expressing his deep sorrow regarding this tragedy, Stew Leonard Jr., the CEO of Stew Leonard’s, revealed that the supplier had changed the recipe from soy nuts to peanuts without informing them. However, Cookies United, the manufacturer, claims to have notified Stew Leonard’s about this ingredient change several months prior.
Who Was Orla Baxendale?
Órla Baxendale, born and raised in Manchester, UK, began her journey in Irish dance at a young age. However, her passion for dance expanded beyond Irish dance, leading her to pursue training at prestigious institutions such as the Northern Ballet Academy in Leeds, UK, and the Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, UK.
In 2018, Órla made a significant move to New York to further her training as a scholarship student at The Ailey School. During her time there, she had the opportunity to collaborate with renowned choreographers, including Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures for their production of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ as well as Brice Mousset for The Ailey School January Explosion concert.
Not only did Órla showcase her talent on stage, but she also had the privilege of performing in New York Fashion Week. Additionally, she was a cast member of the captivating dance-theater production, ‘English With An Accent,’ which took place at New York’s esteemed Lincoln Center.
Furthermore, Órla actively participated in an entertainment group, engaging in various freelance projects throughout the vibrant New York area. Her dedication and versatility as a dancer allowed her to leave a lasting impact on the dance community in both the UK and the United States.
