£200,000 Compensation Paid After Hot Tub Deaths

A hot tub at a discount warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent has been blamed for an outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease that killed three people and made nearly twenty more seriously ill.

After a thorough investigation, the Health Protection Agency confirmed that the hot tub that was on display at the JTF Warehouse in Fenton was the ‘probable cause’ of the outbreak.

One of the visitors to the building had been a delivery driver dropping off supplies at the on-site café. He started getting headaches and suffering from hallucinations after being exposed to the bacteria, and later died of organ failure at his home.

Post-mortem investigations showed that the strain of Legionella bacteria found in his body matched exactly with the strain found in the hot tub.

Legionnaires’ Disease is the most dangerous of the illnesses associated with the Legionella bacteria which thrive in fresh water environments; particularly those where the water temperature remains between 20 and 45 degrees centigrade. Hot tubs or spa pools are popular in hotels and gyms, and recently have become more prevalent than ever in peoples’ gardens. The water is usually kept between 30 and 35 degrees; the perfect temperature for the bacteria to thrive, and the bubbling of the water, along with splashing from those enjoying themselves, can release the bacteria into the air for quite a wide area around the tub. This means that not only are those enjoying the spa at risk, but others who are in the vicinity can also inhale the bacteria. Once these bacteria enter the lung they breed and multiply, causing Legionnaires’ Disease.

The families of those who suffered as a result of the outbreak have recently been awarded £200,000 in compensation.

If you or someone you care for has contracted Legionnaires’ Disease either at work, on holiday, in hospital, or even from a hot tub, you are likely to be eligible to make a claim for compensation. In all of these situations there should have been procedures in place to reduce the risk of Legionella bacteria entering or multiplying, and if these rules have not been followed and you have become ill then seeking compensation can be the best way forward. At Mercury Legal we understand that bringing any kind of legal action can be daunting, particularly if you have become ill or are suffering the after-effects of Legionnaires’ Disease.

Our friendly, highly experienced solicitors are on hand now to listen to your experience and help you decide whether making a claim for compensation is the right route to take. Contact us today and let us help you get the pay-out you and your family deserve.