Lawyers secure settlement for Welsh nurse placed in coma after being diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease following Rhodes holiday

Lawyers have secured a settlement for a Welsh nurse who was placed in an induced coma after contracting Legionnaires' disease following a holiday to Rhodes.

Amanda Mortimer became unwell just days after returning home from a week’s long holiday to the four-star Thalia Hotel in Pefkos.  She had travelled there with her partner, Estelle Mattravers, 51.  

The 54-year-old, of Llantwit Major, in the Vale of Glamorgan, began suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea and a fever.  She was admitted to hospital after developing breathing difficulties. She was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.

Amanda’s condition deteriorated and she was transferred to intensive care before being airlifted to London for specialist life-saving treatment.  She developed pneumonia and sepsis - a life-threatening condition where the body attacks itself in response to an infection. Amanda was placed in an induced coma.  She was in hospital for around a month before being discharged home.

Following the trip costing over £800 and booked through tour operator LoveHolidays, the mum-of-one instructed specialist international serious injury lawyers to investigate whether her illness was linked to her stay at the Thalia Hotel.

Following legal submissions by Irwin Mitchell, in which the law firm said it had independent evidence linking a number of confirmed Legionnaires’ cases to guests who stayed at the same hotel during the same period, LoveHolidays agreed a significant out of court settlement with Amanda. It denied liability throughout proceedings.

Nadhia Akthar, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Amanda, said:

“Understandably, Amanda remains upset and angry at the circumstances surrounding her illness.  That she was hospitalised for a month and had to be put into an induced coma highlights how serious it was.

 

“Through our work we sadly see the devastating consequences of Legionnaires’ disease, and this is highlighted in the ordeal Amanda went through.

 

“While nothing can make up for her suffering and the impact the illness has had on her both physically and psychologically, we’re pleased to have been able to secure a settlement for Amanda.  We hope it will provide her with some closure and help her begin to move forward.

 

“Legionnaires’ disease is a greater risk in large buildings such as hotels, hospitals or spas with more complex water systems. Therefore, it’s vital the highest safety standards are maintained at all times to keep holidaymakers safe.”

Amanda, a mental health nurse, and support worker Estelle stayed at the Thalia Hotel between 21 and 28 June 2022.

Because of how long she spent in hospital, Amanda was left with mobility issues and was reliant on a walking frame and wheelchair for some time afterwards.  She also struggled with a lot of her hobbies and socialising and didn’t feel up to celebrating the first Christmas after her illness.

Amanda said: “I’d been to the Thalia Hotel twice before and never had any issues, but I admit I was shocked at how run down it appeared to have become.

“I’d heard of problems with water in the guests rooms, and there was loads of algae around the pool area.  Where the food was served didn’t seem very clean either, but not for one minute did I expect to fall ill.

“I thought it was maybe a sickness bug at first, but it wasn’t long before I was completely floored.  I’ve never felt so unwell in my life.  When I started struggling to breathe, I knew something was very wrong.

“Everything happened really quickly after that and I was terrified as I didn’t understand what was happening.

“It was only after I woke from my coma that I knew how life-threatening my condition had been and the heartbreak my loved ones had gone through.  There was a real possibility that I wouldn’t make it, and my recovery was frustratingly slow in terms of mobility and being able to function.

"Even now, more than four years later, I continue to live with the impact. I become breathless much more easily, I get tired quickly, get regular chest infections and I’ve developed a lot of anxiety around my health.  I even still get flashbacks of my time in the hospital.

"Before this happened, I regularly worked overtime, travelled and enjoyed being active, but a lot of that has stopped now.  

“Estelle and I would also do a lot of things spur of the moment, but we no longer do anything other than going for a walk and maybe stopping for a drink.  The spontaneity is lost because of the ongoing issues I’m dealing with along with my anxiety.

“I’m trying to accept that my life is very different since my illness, but I still get upset about it.  At the same time, I’m very grateful of the care and support I’ve received, and just hope that by sharing what I’ve been through can help others.”