A university student from Devon is calling for greater awareness of how life-threatening serious allergies can be following her experiences of travelling on planes which have put her life at risk.

Libby Evans, of Newton Abbot, was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy when she was just four years old after being given peanut butter. She suffered such a bad reaction that she was rushed to hospital.

Wherever Libby, now 23, goes she has to carry with her epipens - a medical device that injects adrenaline to treat severe allergic reactions. Although she refuses to let her allergy stop her leading a full and fulfilling life, her passion for travelling has highlighted how even boarding a plane can put her life at risk.

Her shocking experiences have included watching as 500 bags of peanuts were handed out on a flight, despite having notified the airline about her allergy in advance and stating how any peanut residue she comes into contact with can spark a deadly reaction.

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. It can happen seconds or minutes after someone has been exposed to something a person is allergic to.

Recalling how she first became aware of her allergy, Libby said: "My mother gave me a slice of bread with peanut butter and, almost immediately, I felt my throat itch and my face began to swell. Although I was very young, I distinctly remember the sensation and knew something was seriously wrong.

"I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, where a prick test confirmed I had a severe peanut allergy and anaphylactic. Since then, I’ve had to be extremely vigilant about my allergy."

Libby has visited many countries, including South East Asia, Central America, Africa, and Australia, but said a 'troubling trend' she had observed is airlines not realising how serious her condition is.

Libby, a multimedia journalism student at Bournemouth University, said: "Many airlines don’t take food allergies seriously. I’ve had incidents where I was served food with peanuts despite informing the airline in advance. Once, on a flight, the crew handed out 500 bags of peanuts after I had notified them of my allergy.

"It often feels like my allergy is treated as a dietary choice rather than a serious medical condition. I’ve been told to wear a surgical mask, cover my head with a blanket, or even leave the plane.

"Peanuts contain sticky proteins that can linger on surfaces longer than other foods. If these surfaces aren't properly cleaned, it could lead to allergic reactions.

"The real risk isn’t airborne peanut particles – that’s a very low risk – but rather the transfer of peanut proteins through contact. For example, if someone with peanut residue on their hands touches something like a toilet door handle, and I later touch the same handle, it could lead to a severe reaction.

"The reality is, peanuts and nuts do not need to be served on planes. Passengers can survive an entire flight without nuts, and eliminating this risk would be simple.

"I’ve generally found that European and UK airlines are more accommodating. They often inform passengers and provide me with wipes to clean my area. Unfortunately, other passengers often react negatively.

"I vividly remember a flight back from Greece last summer when I was alone. The crew announced that peanuts were not to be consumed during the flight, and a group of about eight men behind me began shouting threatening comments like, 'I’ll shove nuts down whoever has the allergy’s throat', and “who cares about allergies, it’s just attention seeking'.

"This behavior was both frightening and intimidating, but I believe it stems from a lack of education about how serious allergies are."

It has prompted Libby to raise awareness of serious allergies in the hope of prompting change in the aviation industry. She has made a short documentary called Airborne Allergies: Life on the Line highlighting the challenges faced by individuals with severe allergies when flying

In it she interviews BBC presenter Georgie Palmer, who was kicked off a flight with her family due to her daughter’s peanut allergy; Julianne Ponan, the founder of allergen-free brand Creative Nature who shared her own terrifying flight experiences; and Linds, a travel enthusiast and allergy podcaster who provided valuable insight into travelling with allergies.

Libby said: "I hope my film goes some way towards raising awareness and educating people around what it means to have serious allergies. I do not avoid nuts because it’s a dietary choice; I have to avoid them to stay alive.

"It’s a disease, not a diet."