Retired Geoffrey Platts died after contracting Legionnaire's Disease at Herne Bay sheltered housing scheme
St Clements Court in
Herne Bay, where Mr Platts lived
by Gerry Warren
A man died after contracting legionnaires’ disease at a
sheltered housing scheme in Herne Bay.
Retired company director Geoffrey Platts, 88, was living at St
Clement’s Court, in Canterbury Road, when he was taken ill and the
condition was diagnosed.
An environmental health investigation was launched by the city
council, but he died in Kent and Canterbury Hospital on November 1
last year.
His daughter Lyn Strong, also from Herne Bay, told an inquest at
Canterbury Coroner’s Court she was concerned about the water in his
flat.
"My father was supposed to be in the safety of warden-assisted accommodation, but there was something in his water" – Geoffrey Platts' daughter Lyn Strong
She said: “I know he
was already poorly, but he might still be alive today had he not
contracted legionella in his flat.
"My father was supposed to be in the safety of warden-assisted
accommodation, but there was something in his water.
“There was stagnant water in his shower pipes and the pressure
was very low. It should never have been present in my father’s flat
in the first place.”
She said that since his death, her father’s flat had been gutted
by Anchor Trust, which manages the building.
But coroner Rebecca Cobb also heard Mr Platts had numerous other
medical problems and had previously been admitted to hospital
before contracting legionnaires’.
Pathologist Miklos Perenyei gave the cause of his death as
septicaemia but said legionella was a contributory factor.
He said the infection was not usually serious for healthy
individuals but those with underlying medical conditions were at
risk.
Miss Cobb said that because of Mrs Strong’s concerns, she was
adjourning the inquest for more information.
06/02/13
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