Brit fighting for life in Crete after contracting Legionnaires' disease on holiday
The Hull mum had been soaking up the sun with husband Sidney and their friends Paula and Nicolas Mason when she started feeling poorly on June 5.
What started as a chest infection quickly escalated into a severe illness, and within two days Donna was admitted to hospital and placed into an induced coma.
Her niece Claire told Hull Live that tests confirmed Donna contracted Legionnaires' disease caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila,
According to the NHS, Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection you can get from inhaling droplets of water from things like contaminated air conditioning systems or hot tubs. Donna's infection triggered acute respiratory failure and pneumonia, her family said, and they are now praying for her recovery.
Claire, 42, said: "We are all devastated and beside ourselves." She added: "We were told it was touch and go whether she would survive. We are all praying for her. She is stable but under constant watch. We flew out there but had to come back because of work and family commitments. I'm still waiting for documents but will go back with them as soon as I have them."
Husband Sidney, a former police officer, remains by Donna's bedside with Claire describing her auntie as "like a mother to us all". "It is quite strict in the intensive care unit," Claire admitted. "You only get 30 minutes to visit. But she is well looked after."
Paula and Nicholas, who also went on the £1,500-per-couple holiday, returned to Hull on June 12 and said the illness came out of nowhere. "It was lovely at the start of the holiday. We all walked everywhere," Paula, 52, said.
"Then it came out from nowhere. She has a lot of health problems anyway. But she became seriously ill and the doctor said she had to be taken to hospital and they have put her in an induced coma in the intensive care unit."
The source of the Legionnaires' Disease has not yet been identified. Easyjet Holidays, with whom the couples travelled, are aware of the issue and have provided alternative hotel options to current and future guests.
A spokesperson said: "We're so sorry to hear that Ms Jobling is unwell, and we're continuing to support her and her family in every way we can. As soon as we were made aware of reports of illness, we immediately took action and contacted customers who were already staying in the hotel, or due to travel in the next four weeks, to provide alternative hotel options.
"We've also been in touch with customers who recently returned home from this hotel, to inform them of necessary guidance. Our customers' safety and wellbeing is our top priority, and we'll continue to do all we can to support them."
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