Police said the waiter could be charged with criminal negligence

He suffered cardiac arrested and was hospitalized for five days total

Canuel ordered the beef tartare, but was served the salmon tartare instead

He told the waiter twice about his allergy, and asked him to double-check that the staff was aware of it

A 22-year-old Canadian waiter has been arrested after serving salmon to a patron who had disclosed his severe allergy - and almost died after taking one just one bite.

Simon-Pierre Canuel, 34, was dining with his boyfriend at tapas restaurant Le Tapageur in Quebec when he went into anaphylactic shock.

Canuel, who has a severe seafood allergy, immediately lost consciousness. He suffered cardiac arrest and was in a coma for two days.

Simon-Pierre Canuel, 34, was in a coma (pictured) for two days and suffered cardiac arrest after he was served salmon tartare despite telling the waiter he had a severe seafood allergy

Canuel was dining with his boyfriend (pictured) at tapas restaurant Le Tapageur in Quebec when he went into anaphylactic shock. The waiter has since been arrested

'The server almost killed me,' Canuel told the Globe and Mail. 'I know it was an error, but that error had almost taken my life.'

Canuel said he repeatedly told the waiter, whose name has not been released, about his allergy when he dined at the restaurant on May 29.

He first told the server about his allergy when he first sat down at Le Tapageur.

Canuel said he then placed his order for the beef tartare, and asked the waiter to double-check that the chef and kitchen staff knew about his allergy.

But the waiter did not take notes or write down Canuel's order and did not check with the staff, according to Sherbrooke Police Constable Martin Carrier.

And Canuel alleged that he instead saw the waiter chatting, laughing and drinking alcohol with other guests at the restaurant.

When the dish arrived Canuel had no idea that what he was about to take a bite of was actually salmon tartare, instead of beef.

'With the dim lighting, it's not easy to tell the difference between two dishes, especially if they use mayonnaise,' he told CBC.

Le Tapageur has tartare dishes made with both beef and salmon on the menu (pictured)

Canuel said the dim lighting made it impossible to tell between the two dishes (A file photo of beef tartare is pictured on the left, on the right is the salmon tartare)

'It can be confusing.'

The couple notified the waiter, who apologized and offered to bring him the beef dish instead.

But just seconds went by before Canuel began having trouble breathing before he lost consciousness. His Epipen was in the car.

His boyfriend, a doctor, began to conduct mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR. Canuel would be hospitalized in the intensive care unit for the next five days.

Canuel said he attempted to contact Le Tapageur twice but never received any kind of response. He filed a formal complaint with the Sherbrooke Police in July.

It is believed to be the first time police in Canada have ever recommended a waiter to face criminal charges over such an incident.

'When you don't do something that is supposed to be your duty, and you show recklessness for the life or security of someone, that's a crime', Carrier said.

The restaurant has refused to comment on the case. Canuel said he has not been contacted by Le Tapageur since the horrific incident

The waiter, who could be charged with criminal negligence, was released from police custody on the promise he would appear in court if indicted.

It is believed Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions will make the decision in the next two weeks.

Canuel, who is also considering filing a civil suit against the restaurant, said he is still feeling side effects from that one bite.

'I have anxiety attacks. There are times when I have heart palpitations and sweating attacks,' he said.