Speedy recovery to Tim...

Western Bulldogs rush Tim Callan to hospital
The Herald Sun
Daryl Timms | March 25, 2009

WESTERN Bulldog Tim Callan was in hospital last night after an allergic reaction to nuts that caused him breathing difficulties. Callan, 25, suffered the reaction during a team lunch at former Bulldog player Paul Dimattina's Carlton restaurant.

Callan's airway immediately started to narrow as his neck swelled.

Teammates Matt Boyd and Daniel Cross raced to a nearby pharmacy to get some anti-histamines for Callan.

Captain Brad Johnson then drove Callan, who is aware of his allergy, to hospital.

He was expected to stay only a couple of hours but was kept in overnight for observation after doctors decided he needed more treatment.

He was placed back on an intravenous drip after his airways again began to close after the drip was removed.

Callan's teammates were stunned by the incident and had genuine fears for his well-being.

A food allergy can cause airways to close and also lead to potentially fatal anaphylactic shock.

Callan, expected to line up in Sunday's game against Fremantle at Subiaco, suffered a similar allergic reaction when the Bulldogs played in Darwin last year.

Dimattina said Callan went "white" after eating some pasta with pesto sauce, which contained pine nuts that weren't visible.

"He asked me about a minute later whether there were nuts in the sauce and I saw him go white," Dimattina said.

"It was pretty scary. I think he was kicking himself because he hadn't asked if the food had nuts in it. I knew he was in trouble straight away when he went pale. I just hopes he gets over it quickly and can dominate on Sunday."

It's understood Callan usually carries a special needle that contains a shot of epinephrine to treat his allergy in an emergency.

Western Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said last night medical staff at the hospital would update club doctors this morning.

"Once he has got the all clear, it tends not to be an ongoing issue at all," he said. "At this point it time we are still thinking he'll be right to play."

Essendon players were also booked in for dinner last night at Dimattina's Lygon St restaurant.

Dimattina said he'd told his staff to ask each player whether they had any food allergies.