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."