Wife of cruise Legionnaires disease victim gets £70k damages
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A woman from Swanley has been awarded a £70,000 settlement
after her husband died from Legionnaires disease contracted on
board a Fred Olsen cruise.
Retired milkman Robert Heath became ill on July 31, 2007, the
day after his and his wife Audrey's cruise to Lapland and St
Petersburg on board the M.S. Black Watch ended early due to an
outbreak of the potentially fatal bacteria on the ship.
The 77-year-old visited a doctor on August 1 but was prescribed
antibiotics and sent home again.
His condition continued to deteriorate and, despite his daughter
speaking to a different doctor about his health, no further advice
was given beyond continuing to take the antibiotics for 24 hours
and wait for improvement.
Mr Heath died at home on August 3.
An inquest ruled Fred Olsen Cruise Liners Ltd exposed Mr Heath
to Legionnaires disease and found the two doctors failed to
prescribe adequate medication, respond to his worsening condition
or arrange for his admission to hospital.
Mrs Heath, a volunteer worker and retired secretary, said: "My
husband was reasonably fit and healthy before we went away, and we
used to enjoy regular holidays and a social life together, so to
see him deteriorate so quickly after he fell ill was very
traumatic."
Kimberley Owen, a partner at the law firm which represented Mrs
Heath, said: "Mr Heath provided an enormous amount of support to
his wife, who has health problems that limit her ability to
undertake some day to day tasks.
"While the £70,000 damages will not bring Mrs Heath’s husband
back, it will make it easier for her to cope with daily life and is
an appropriate settlement."
Thursday, February 25 2010
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