Pensioner caught Legionnaires’ disease from store hot tub
The son of a pensioner who had a stroke after contracting Legionnaires’ disease from a hot tub has said his father ‘has not been the same since’. Derek Cull, 82, was a loyal customer of JTF Wholesale, but is now a “shadow of his former self” after suffering the debilitating stroke, which had been linked to contracting the disease in 2012.
The DIY fan was a healthy 77-year-old when he visited the JTF store in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, in 2012. But while there, he picked up Legionnaires’ disease leading to him to have a catastrophic stroke. Derek, from Meir Heath, near Stoke-on-Trent, was one of 21 people to catch the bug in 2012 which killed two people. His devastated son David Cull said his father had not been the same since. Speaking to the Stoke Sentinel, he said: “He’s not my father anymore. After the diagnosis he was admitted to hospital and the Health Protection Agency asked me various questions. They then identified the strain of Legionnaires’ which was found at JTF and that’s when things changed forever”.
JTF was this week fined £1 million for failing to ensure customers and other visitors were not exposed to harmful legionella bacteria coming from a hot tub. Referring to Derek’s case, Mrs Justice Andrews said: “He was an outgoing, confident man and a DIY enthusiast who loved to go abroad on holiday with his wife. But after contracting Legionnaires’ disease he suffered a stroke and became a shadow of his former self. “The impact upon his physical and mental health in turn had a profound effect on his family.” William Hammersley, aged 79, and Richard Griffin, aged 64, both died after visiting the King Street store and breathing in droplets of warm water in which the bacteria developed. Bosses running JTF Wholesale have ‘apologised unreservedly for the failings’. In a statement, the firm said: “A rigorous and extensive review of the company’s health and safety controls, management procedures and risk assessments has been completed. “Again, JTF wishes to extend its sympathy and deepest regret for the events which occurred in 2012 and to all those affected.”
– Pritchard, J. “Pensioner who caught Legionnaires’ disease from hot tub is ‘a shadow of his former self’.” Nottingham Post – 5th July 2017
