A retired primary school teacher, Juliet Leith, from Maidstone, had a frightening experience during her £2,000 vacation to Gran Canaria. Suffering from flu-like symptoms, joint pain, and breathlessness at a TUI hotel, she ended up spending 12 days in intensive care due to severe pneumonia.
Juliet, aged 58, was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease after testing positive while staying at the TUI BLUE Suite Princess in Playa Taurito. Legionnaires’ disease, a rare lung infection, can be contracted by inhaling water droplets from sources like air conditioning systems or hot tubs that are not frequently used.
Initially admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms, Juliet’s condition worsened rapidly, leading to a four-day induced coma. Her daughters were informed of the critical situation and flew to be with her. Despite the grim outlook, Juliet survived the ordeal but faced memory gaps and the shock of her near-death experience.
After spending 12 days in the ICU, Juliet returned to the UK for further treatment at Maidstone Hospital. She has since been discharged and is under the care of a respiratory consultant for ongoing recovery. Seeking answers, Juliet has engaged serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the circumstances surrounding her illness.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Juliet emphasized the need for greater awareness of Legionnaires’ disease symptoms and prevention methods. She stressed the importance of simple precautions like running showers and maintaining air conditioning units to mitigate the risk of contracting the disease.
Jatinder Paul, the legal representative at Irwin Mitchell, highlighted the challenges posed by complex water systems in public buildings like hotels and the necessity for stringent preventive measures against Legionnaires’ disease.
In response to the incident, a TUI spokesperson expressed regret over Juliet’s situation, refraining from further comments due to the legal nature of the matter.