A 70-year-old woman passed away after contracting a dangerous illness while celebrating her birthday at a holiday cottage with a hot tub, as revealed in an inquest. Paulette Crookes had booked the rental property at Tapnell Farm on the Isle of Wight to mark her milestone birthday with 10 family members. Unfortunately, she later tested positive for legionella, a harmful water-borne bacteria that can lead to Legionnaires’ disease, and she died on March 8, 2020.
During the inquest in Newport, Isle of Wight, it was disclosed that the family had used the hot tub multiple times over the weekend. Paulette’s daughter, Nicola Vaughan, mentioned that her mother had extensively enjoyed the hot tub facility. However, concerns arose as Mrs. Vaughan noticed a strange smell and cloudy, off-color water in the tub on the following days of their stay.
Following their holiday, several family members, including Mrs. Crookes’ grandchildren, fell ill, with some developing rashes. The family contacted the cottage management, reporting illnesses and skin issues, attributing them to the poorly maintained hot tub. They highlighted a lack of water checks during their stay.
Upon returning home, Mrs. Crookes’ health deteriorated, leading to hospitalization and subsequent ICU admission due to dizziness and vomiting. She was eventually diagnosed with legionella, which resulted in a decline in her condition, including a stroke and heart attack. Her daughter described the experience as devastating.
Environmental Health teams investigated the property, finding no legionella traces but identified issues in other hot tubs on the site. The council decided against legal action, and the housekeeping manager responsible for the hot tubs denied any problems, stating daily water testing during the family’s visit. The inquest aims to determine if the infection was contracted during the stay and its role in Mrs. Crookes’ tragic death.
The jury inquest is anticipated to continue for up to two weeks.