![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_David-Marshall-1.jpg\")
David Marshall on holiday with his family(Image: Submitted)<\/p>\nThe dad from Lancashire has been awarded \u00a380,000 in compensationDavid Marshall on holiday with his family(Image: Submitted)<\/p>\n
A dad-of-five from Nelson spent a month in a coma after contracting a deadly infection while on holiday in Benidorm.<\/p>\n
Retired union official David Marshall had travelled to the popular Spanish resort with his wife and their son and daughter-in-law in July 2020 after the first Covid lockdown. The family holiday, at the four-star Hotel Presidente, cost \u00a34,212.<\/p>\n
While on holiday, the 82-year-old developed symptoms including confusion, a cough, shortness of breath, kidney pains and diarrhoea as well as vomiting. When he returned to Lancashire<\/a> David was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with the bacterial infection Legionnaire\u2019s disease. With his organs failing, David was placed in a coma for four weeks, He also underwent a tracheotomy through the neck to help him breathe.<\/p>\n David, who spent six weeks in hospital and lost more than four stone in weight, instructed serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help him access the specialist support and rehabilitation he needs.<\/p>\n The law firm launched legal proceedings against tour operator Jet2 Holidays through which David booked his holiday. With the case heading to trial, Jet2 agreed an out of court<\/a> settlement of \u00a380,000 three weeks before the trial was due to start. It denied liability.<\/p>\n David and his legal team are now warning of the dangers of Legionnaire\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n Jatinder Paul, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing David, said: \u201cLegionnaires\u2019 disease is a devastating illness and can have life-changing or even fatal consequences.<\/p>\n \u201cDavid and his family remain upset at what happened. While nothing can make up for their ordeal, we\u2019re pleased to have secured this settlement which compensates David for what he has endured and also ensures he will be able to access any future support he may require.<\/p>\n \u201cLarge public buildings with complex water systems – such as hotels – are at a greater risk of the bacteria which causes Legionnaire\u2019s disease. Therefore, it\u2019s vital that all safety measures possible are taken.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Benidorm a popular all-year-round destination for Britons we urge tour operators, who are responsible for ensuring the safety of holidaymakers, to ensure the highest hygiene and safety standards are always upheld.\u201d<\/p>\n David said that the air conditioning in his room at the Hotel Presidente was noisy and dripped water. On one occasion it left a pool of water on the floor.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cLife has been completely different since I became ill. The experience has left a lasting mark on me.<\/p>\n \u201cEven five years on my memory just isn\u2019t what it used to be, and I find myself short of breath far more easily than before. However, despite everything, in some respects, I know I\u2019m fortunate, as things could have ended much worse.<\/p>\n \u201cMy family went through a terrible time while I was in hospital. It\u2019s deeply upsetting to think of them having to face the possibility that I might not pull through. Towards the end of the holiday, I was so unwell that all I wanted was to get home before things got any worse.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing can ever make up for what I\u2019ve been through, but I just hope that by speaking out others are aware of the signs and symptoms of Legionnaires\u2019 disease and how serious it is.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Jet2 said: \u201cWe can confirm that we have reached a settlement in relation to an incident which occurred in 2020.<\/p>\n \u201cThe health and safety of our customers is extremely important to us, and we are of course extremely sorry to hear about this experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Join our LancsLive WhatsApp group<\/p>\n LancsLive now has its very own WhatsApp community to deliver the latest news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n Breaking news, opinion and top stories are being sent directly to our community and we want you to be part of it. Get the latest news as it breaks from across Lancashire<\/a>. Users who want to join must have WhatsApp downloaded to their phone.<\/p>\n All you have to do to join is click on this link<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in. No one will be able to see your personal information in the community and you will only receive messages from the LancsLive news team. We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest stories from across the county.<\/p>\n If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave at any time by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking ‘Exit Group’, simple as that.<\/p>\n Join our new Whatsapp community! Click this link<\/a> to receive daily LancsLive breaking news and top stories. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_David-Marshall-3.jpg\")
David and his wife on holiday(Image: Submitted)<\/p>\n