Hope Drake died in Waterloo Road due to anaphylaxis triggered by accidentally consuming dairy, to which she had a severe allergy. The tragic event happened when new teacher Darius Donovan inadvertently mixed up dairy and non-dairy cakes, leading Hope to eat a cake that caused a life-threatening allergic reaction. Despite attempts to save her with adrenaline pens and CPR, Hope's condition deteriorated quickly, and she died at the school. This storyline was developed in collaboration with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation to raise awareness about food allergies and the critical need for emergency preparedness in schools.