Man, 44, is left with 'permanent damage' to health after hotel 'error' left him close to death on his honeymoon
A 44-year-old man has told how his health was 'permanently damaged' during his dream honeymoon - and he believes the hotel is to blame.
Thomas Coupland and his new wife Natasha, 40, headed off to Sorrento, Italy, for a week-long break to celebrate their matrimony.
The couple, who forked out more than £1,600 for their holiday in May last year, said what 'was meant to be the happiest time of their lives' became a living nightmare on the flight home.
Thomas began to feel unwell on the journey back to the UK and became increasingly ill in the following days, experiencing diarrhoea and flu-like symptoms.
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The aerospace engineer, from Sheffield, was initially diagnosed with a chest infection and prescribed antibiotics, but he was forced to head to hospital when his condition worsened.
The father-of-one took himself to the Northern General Hospital, where he was later admitted to intensive care and suffered heart failure.
He narrowly avoided a heart attack as doctors battled to bring his heart rate down from a terrifying 214 beats per minute.
"It was terrifying how quickly everything unfolded and how close Natasha and our son were to losing me," Thomas said.
He had to undergo a procedure which involved administering an electric shock to his body to restore his normal heart rhythm in August last year.
The dad-of-one was later diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in wake of his return from Italy, and he says he is still living with the effects of this today.
According to the NHS, this lung infection is uncommon, but can be very serious and it is caused by breathing in 'tiny droplets of water containing bacteria that cause the infection'.
It explains: "It's usually caught in places like hotels, hospitals or offices where the bacteria have got into the water supply. It's less common to catch it at home. You can get Legionnaires' disease from things like air conditioning systems, humidifiers, spa pools and hot tubs, taps and showers that are not used often."
Symptoms include a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, flu-like symptoms and a high temperature.
Thomas and nursery manager Natasha have now instructed lawyers to investigate whether his illness was linked to his stay at their hotel in Italy.
They allege that their bathroom at the resort was covered in limescale, while black mould covered the shower head and the water swimming pool is said to have looked 'green'.
"This was meant to be the happiest time of our lives," Thomas said. "Natasha and I had been looking forward to our honeymoon. A lot of people will have heard of Legionnaires’ disease, but I never realised just how serious it can be. I’m so grateful to the doctors for being able to save my life.
"It could have been so much worse, but my health is now permanently damaged. I can’t do many of the things I used to be able to before, because of my ongoing symptoms.
"One of the worst things to try and come to terms with, is trying to explain to my three-year-old son why I can no longer do all of the things that we loved doing together before my illness, such as playing sports together, football training, swimming and play fighting.
"I was lucky that before my illness, I could spend a lot of quality time with my son due to my shift patterns at work, however now we have to pay for childcare on my days off, which has been a difficult adjustment for both of us.
"Answers as to why this happened, and why my life changed, is the least we deserve. Natasha and I feel we need to speak out to try and make sure other hotel guests do not go through what we have."
Thomas and Natasha are being represented by Jennifer Hodgson, a specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who said the dad is 'extremely lucky to be alive' after his 'terrible experience'.
"The impact of his illness has had a profound effect on both him, Natasha and their three-year-old son, at what should have been an exciting new chapter in their lives," Hodgson said.
"We’ve supported many people over the years who have developed Legionnaires’ disease abroad, as well as here in the UK, yet people are often unaware of just how serious it can be. Legionnaires’ disease can lead to long-term health complications and in some cases can prove fatal. Thomas’ case shows just how serious it can be.
"If it wasn’t for the swift actions of the doctors, Thomas might not be here. Large buildings with more complex water systems - such as hotels - are at a greater risk of the bacteria which causes Legionnaire’s disease.
"We’re now investigating how Thomas came to contract the illness abroad, including looking at his stay [...] in Sorrento. We’re determined to provide Thomas with the answers and long-term support he needs."
LADbible have contacted the company that manages the hotel in question for comment.
Olivia Burke