A British nurse has won a five-figure payout after she almost died from Legionnaires' disease after a Greek island holiday.
Amanda Mortimer, 54, was induced into a coma to save her life after she fell ill on a break to Rhodes.
Amanda and her partner Estelle Mattravers, 51, had stayed at the four-star Thalia Hotel in Pefkos twice before – but noticed on their 2022 trip that the property had become 'run down'.
Mum-of-one Amanda returned from the £800-break and began to suffer from vomiting, diarrhoea and developed a fever.
She was told she had Legionnaires' disease but her condition soon deteriorated and she suffered breathing difficulties and developed pneumonia and sepsis.
Amanda said: 'I'd been to the Thalia Hotel twice before and never had any issues, but I admit I was shocked at how run down it appeared to have become.
'I'd heard of problems with water in the guests' rooms, and there was loads of algae around the pool area. Where the food was served didn't seem very clean either, but not for one minute did I expect to fall ill.
'I thought it was maybe a sickness bug at first, but it wasn't long before I was completely floored. I've never felt so unwell in my life. When I started struggling to breathe, I knew something was very wrong.'
Amanda Mortimer, a nurse from Wales, fell ill while on holiday in Greece
Amanda of Llantwit Major, South Wales, was transferred to intensive care before being airlifted to London for specialist life-saving treatment.
She was placed into a medically induced coma and remained in hospital for around a month before being discharged home.
She said: 'Everything happened really quickly after that and I was terrified as I didn't understand what was happening.
'It was only after I woke from my coma that I knew how life-threatening my condition had been and the heartbreak my loved ones had gone through.
'There was a real possibility that I wouldn't make it, and my recovery was frustratingly slow in terms of mobility and being able to function.
'Even now, more than four years later, I continue to live with the impact. I become breathless much more easily, I get tired quickly, get regular chest infections and I've developed a lot of anxiety around my health. I even still get flashbacks of my time in the hospital.
'Before this happened, I regularly worked overtime, travelled and enjoyed being active, but a lot of that has stopped now.
'Estelle and I would also do a lot of things spur of the moment, but we no longer do anything other than going for a walk and maybe stopping for a drink. The spontaneity is lost because of the ongoing issues I'm dealing with along with my anxiety.'
Amanda fortunately recovered, although she still struggles with fatigue and the ongoing impact of her illness
'I'm trying to accept that my life is very different since my illness, but I still get upset about it. At the same time, I'm very grateful for the care and support I've received, and just hope that by sharing what I've been through can help others.'
Amanda appointed law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate whether her illness was linked to her holiday booked through tour operator LoveHolidays.
The firm found evidence that other guests had become unwell while staying at the same hotel at the time mental health nurse Amanda and support worker Estelle visited in June 2022.
LoveHolidays later agreed a significant out of court settlement with Amanda but denied liability throughout proceedings.
Nadhia Akthar, who represented Amanda, said: 'Understandably, Amanda remains upset and angry at the circumstances surrounding her illness.
'That she was hospitalised for a month and had to be put into an induced coma highlights how serious it was.
Amanda has won a five-figure payout following the incident
'Through our work we sadly see the devastating consequences of Legionnaires' disease, and this is highlighted in the ordeal Amanda went through.
'While nothing can make up for her suffering and the impact the illness has had on her both physically and psychologically, we're pleased to have been able to secure a settlement for Amanda. We hope it will provide her with some closure and help her begin to move forward.'
Legionnaires' disease is a greater risk in large buildings such as hotels, hospitals or spas with more complex water systems.
Therefore, it is vital the highest safety standards are maintained at all times to keep holidaymakers safe.