A British mother nearly died after contracting a deadly disease when a granite worktop crushed her foot during a holiday to Barbados. 

Karen Griffiths, 66, was on an all-inclusive holiday at Sandals Bardados resort in January 2023, to celebrate her partner’s 65th birthday with family and friends.

But her dream holiday turned into a disaster when a granite worktop at the foot of her bed collapsed directly onto her right foot.

Mrs Griffiths had awoken in the middle of the night to use the toilet, but as she returned to bed leant on the surface which toppled onto her foot, causing her injury.

She spent the rest of her holiday in a wheelchair and her foot continued to swell. 

At the end of the ten-night stay, a doctor she visited in Barbados advised that she could fly home on the condition that she kept her foot elevated throughout the flight.

After returning back to the UK, Ms Griffiths was admitted to hospital when she developed other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and a high temperature. 

She was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, severe pneumonia and kidney failure. 

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection. It is often contracted by breathing in tiny droplets of water containing bacteria that cause the infection. 

Ms Griffiths went on holiday to the all-inclusive resort in St Lawrence Gap with her partner Michael, 67, in 2023 when disaster struck

During their first night, Karen got up to use the toilet but as she returned to bed, she leaned on a granite worktop at the foot of her bed, causing it to swell

She spent ten days in hospital, including several in intensive care. Her condition was so bad that her partner feared Ms Griffiths was ‘dying’. 

Ms Griffiths was finally discharged but her long-lasting symptoms meant she was forced to give up her cleaning business and regular hobbies. 

She said: ‘The incident has changed my way of life. I can’t get the holiday out of my mind and it still upsets me whenever I think about what happened and the lasting effect it’s had.

‘The remaining nine days of the holiday were completely ruined. I was in a wheelchair and couldn’t go to the beach or take part in any of the activities we’d planned.

‘All I wanted was to come home because I felt the incident had spoiled everything for everyone.

‘When I got back to the UK, I became so unwell that I have no memory of several days in hospital.

‘I suffered terrifying hallucinations and genuinely believed I was dying. It was a deeply traumatic experience and I still have nightmares about it.’

After ending up in intensive care, Mrs Griffiths was forced to give up her cleaning business from the long-lasting effects of the ordeal. 

She continued: ‘I feel like a different person to who I was… before all of this, I was active and independent.

‘I swam every day, loved walking and going out with friends but I can’t fully return to these routines because of my ongoing symptoms.

‘I now struggle with anxiety, depression, memory loss and a lack of confidence. 

‘I used to run an established cleaning business with my cousin, which I loved, but I’ve been unable to return to work and the business had to be dissolved, causing severe financial strain. 

‘I’m also unsteady on my feet and have fallen twice, causing further injuries.  My family have been incredibly supportive, but this has been a very difficult time for all of us.

‘The impact has been life-changing physically, mentally and financially. I’m left trying to rebuild everything.’      

Karen Griffiths (pictured with friends and family), 66, contracted Legionnaires’ disease on a holiday to Barbados after a worktop in her room landed on her foot, leaving her in a wheelchair for the rest of the holiday 

A granite worktop crushed Ms Griffiths’ foot on a ten-day £6,800 holiday to Sandals Barbados

She instructed serious injury lawyers Irwin Mitchell to investigate the tour operator, Kenwood Travel Ltd. 

The travel firm has filed its defence at court and has said there was no admission of liability while the trial was ongoing. 

Ms Griffiths’s lawyer Jatinder Paul said: ‘Karen has been through a terrible ordeal following her holiday.

‘While we welcome the tour operator’s admission, she continues to be profoundly impacted.

‘Nothing can undo what Karen and her family continue to go through but we’re committed to ensuring she receives the specialist support she needs. 

‘Legionnaires’ disease is extremely serious and can lead to long-term health complications and, in some cases, can be fatal.

‘Public buildings such as hotels often have complex water systems, so strict precautions are essential to prevent the bacteria from developing.

‘Tour operators have a legal duty to ensure the safety of those who have booked all-inclusive holiday with them.

‘Therefore, with Barbados being a popular destination during the peak months of March and April, it’s vital that the highest hygiene standards are upheld.

‘Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease can take several days to appear, so we’d urge people to seek urgent medical advice if they begin to feel unwell.’ 

A financial settlement has not yet been reached with the travel firm. 

A representative of Sandals Resorts said: ‘As a matter of company policy, we do not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.’

Kenwood Travel Ltd said they could not comment on the case while it was still live.