Thompsons Solicitors has secured compensation for an active pensioner whose long-term health has been affected by contracting Legionnaires’ disease from breathing in harmful bacteria at a Stoke-on-Trent discount warehouse.

Pattrick De-Igo, who was 75 at the time, was shopping at JFT Mega Store with his neighbour when he was exposed to the airborne bacteria from a hot tub that was filled with water and bubbling inside the store.

A couple of days after his shopping trip Pattrick began to lose his appetite, feel lethargic and lacked his usual energy.

Pattrick’s GP diagnosed him with having a fever and recommended that he rest. However, his health rapidly deteriorated and he was found unconscious, collapsed on the floor at home by his neighbour.

Pattrick was rushed to hospital where he was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.

After he contracted the potentially fatal lung infection, Pattrick approached Thompsons Solicitors to investigate a claim for compensation on his behalf.

It was confirmed that the Legionella was from the display hot tub. The business admitted full liability for the outbreak, which infected numerous customers and led to the deaths of two.

Pattrick, who was once very active, feels that three years on he has not made a full recovery. He said: “My health is certainly improving because I’m a fighter but I don’t know if I’ll ever feel back to normal. For months after my diagnosis I relied on my neighbour to do the simplest everyday tasks around the home because I wasn’t well enough to do them myself.

“It’s been an unsettling time for me having to cope with being so physically limited when naturally I’m an energetic man. An ordinary shopping trip turned into a complete disaster but when I think of the deaths I count myself lucky to be here today.”

Thompsons Solicitors said: “The water in the store’s display model was not properly treated. Had this most basic health and safety requirement been met, two deaths could have been avoided and Pattrick, among others, would have not have had to suffer the way they have.”