Woman Dies from Legionella After Holiday Hot Tub Use

A woman died after contracting a legionella infection from a hot tub at a holiday rental on the Isle of Wight, an inquest jury has determined. Paulette Crookes, 70, was celebrating her birthday with family at Dairyman’s Cottage when she became seriously ill shortly after returning home.

The inquest revealed that Mrs. Crookes, a retired butcher’s assistant who lived in Sandown, Isle of Wight, spent considerable time in the hot tub during her stay from February 7 to February 10, 2020. After returning home, her health quickly deteriorated, leading to her death at St Mary’s Hospital in Newport on March 8, 2020.

Inquest Findings and Family Testimony

The jury concluded that Mrs. Crookes died from pneumonia directly caused by a legionella pneumophila infection she acquired from the hot tub. Her daughter, Nicola Vaughan, reported that her mother spent a significant amount of time in the hot tub on the first day of their holiday, but the family noticed a strange odor and cloudy water by the second day. Mrs. Crookes began feeling unwell on the final day, prompting her to leave early.

Following their return, several family members, including grandchildren, developed rashes. The family reached out to Tapnell Farm to report the illnesses, mentioning that doctors indicated the rash was likely a result of “poorly maintained hot tub” conditions. Another daughter, Denise Scott, expressed concerns during the inquest, stating, “From the time we arrived to the time we left, I did not see anyone check or test the water in the hot tub.”

At home, Mrs. Crookes experienced worsening symptoms, including dizziness and vomiting. She was admitted to the hospital on February 16, where her condition continued to decline, leading to complications such as a stroke and heart attack.

Investigation and Health Protocols

The inquest highlighted that Environmental Health investigations at Tapnell Farm did not uncover the strain of legionella that affected Mrs. Crookes. The investigation faced significant delays due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the incident, the family expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation process and the absence of legal action against the establishment.

Chloe Baker, the accommodation manager at Tapnell Farm, stated that she did not review the hot tub testing records provided by the housekeeping manager, Joanna Lloyd, but merely filed them. During the inquest, Coroner Caroline Sumeray suggested that a more thorough approach to risk assessment could have been beneficial.

Despite claims from Ms. Lloyd that she conducted daily water tests, the family reported not seeing her during their stay, raising questions about the reliability of the hot tub maintenance protocols.

The coroner posed a critical question to the jury, asking if they were convinced that the legionella infection was indeed acquired from the hot tub during Mrs. Crookes’ stay. The jury ultimately agreed, attributing her death to the infection contracted at the holiday cottage.

In concluding the inquest, the coroner expressed gratitude towards Mrs. Crookes’ family for their patience and dignity throughout the process, acknowledging the prolonged duration of the investigation due to pandemic-related challenges.