Katherine Rea (20) was travelling from Belfast to London with Flybe last Friday and was horrified when crew onboard the plane refused to alert other passengers about her condition.

The Queen's University student suffers from a serious peanut allergy and has gone into anaphylactic shock - an extreme form of allergic reaction to a particular substance - on four occasions and required urgent medical intervention to prevent her from suffocating to death.

Medical experts recommend that sufferers should inform fellow passengers about their condition prior to a flight because severe reactions can be triggered by inhaling particles of airborne nuts and sufferers are often advised to carry an epipen which can combat an allergic reaction.

Katherine said: "Any time I have flown before I have phoned the airline to tell them about my allergy and have always been told to inform check-in when I arrive, so that's what I did this time.

"We mentioned it again as we were getting onto the plane and we had to start explaining exactly what my condition meant and then I was called into the cockpit and I had to explain again to the pilot about my illness.

"All we wanted was for them to make an announcement to the passengers asking them not to open any food that may contain nuts for the duration of the flight, but the pilot told me I was flying at my own risk.

"I was going to London for auditions that I have worked really hard for and I was just terrified that they weren't going to let me fly so I agreed.

"On the return journey I was told that it is not company policy for Flybe to announce to passengers that there is a person on the plane with a nut allergy."

Her outraged father, Alan, has blasted the way the case was handled by Flybe and said his daughter's experience demonstrates the need for better understanding of the condition.

"We realise that Katherine is taking a risk by getting on a plane, but all we are asking is that the airline reduce that risk by letting other passengers know there is a person with a nut allergy on board," he said.

"Nut allergies are becoming more and more common and by not telling people they are playing with people's lives. There needs to be proper protocol in place so that crews understand what these allergies mean. All we are asking for is a little bit more understanding."

A Flybe spokeswoman said it is the primary responsibility of the company to ensure a safe travelling and working environment for all passengers and crew.

"In pursuing this aim it is our practice to mitigate against all risks throughout the flight process," she said. "Against this background and wherever possible Flybe will take all reasonable steps to look after the special needs of passengers and respect their individual requirements.

"Unfortunately on this occasion Flybe was only made aware of the passenger's nut allergy shortly before boarding.

"As a result the captain had to privately advise the passenger that she would be travelling at her own risk and that Flybe could not take responsibility for what food items other passengers may bring on board.

"Flybe acknowledges that this is a very real and serious issue and apologises to Miss Rea for any inconvenience caused on her flight on this occasion."