Man left fighting for his life hours after proposing to girlfriend on holiday

Irish Daily Mirror

06-05-2025

A tourist endured a months-long battle for his life after falling ill at a four-star resort, just hours after popping the question to his girlfriend. Steven Percy, 67, was enjoying his stay at the Palmon Bay Hotel and Spa in Montenegro when he suddenly developed a fever, mere hours after proposing to his partner Karen, 53.
However, upon returning to his home in York, North Yorkshire, his health took a turn for the worse. He became disoriented and was rushed to York Hospital three days later.
Doctors diagnosed him with Legionnaires' disease - a severe bacterial infection contracted by inhaling water droplets from sources like air conditioning or hot tubs. He was put into an induced coma as his condition worsened, developing multiple organ failure and sepsis - a potentially fatal condition where the body attacks itself in response to an infection.
His recovery involved a four-month hospital stay, two weeks in a neuro rehabilitation centre, and a further two months of tube feeding due to swallowing difficulties.
Despite acknowledging that he is "lucky to be alive", Steven will always associate the holiday, which cost over €2,100, with these unfortunate events, reports the Mirror.
He expressed: "This holiday was meant to be a moment we'd remember all of our lives, however, we'll remember it now for all the wrong reasons. I know I'm lucky to be alive but that's little consolation for what Karen and I have been going through."
Steven, who initially mistook his severe sickness for flu, revealed he "started to realise it was something much more serious" as his condition deteriorated rapidly.
On top of that, he had immediate concerns about the hotel's upkeep upon arrival, criticising the state of the spa facilities and noting that the hot tub was losing tiles. The pool was also out of order for the duration of their visit. Steven Percy with partner Karen before his illness in Montenegro. (Image: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
He recounted: "Initially I thought it was flu, but as the symptoms became worse, we started to realise it was something much more serious."
He continued on to describe his memory lapse during hospitalisation: "I don't remember much about my time in hospital, but it's terrible to imagine what Karen and our families went through, as doctors told them I was critically ill, and it was unclear if I would survive."
Admitted to hospital on April 16 and not discharged until 99 days later, on July 24, Steven's ordeal extended with a subsequent two-week stint in a rehab facility and the need for a feeding tube.
Since then, the funeral director has been unable to resume his job, as further tests are pending to identify potential permanent damage to his lungs.
Now, with assistance from specialist international serious injury solicitors at Irwin Mitchell, Steven is investigating the possibility that his illness was related to his trip – booked through Jet2holidays.
Reflecting on life after his holiday nightmare, he said: "I went on that holiday as the happiest man alive, but my life now is totally different."
Despite the hardships faced, Steven remains resolute: "My recovery continues to be a difficult journey, but I'm determined not to give up and I want back the job, and the life, I had before.
"My lethargy and weakness are hard to cope with, as is the memory loss, and there's so much concern about whether my lungs are permanently damaged.
"We can't change what happened, but we deserve some answers over how I came to be so ill."
Jet2Holidays and the Palmon Bay Hotel and Spa have been contacted for a comment.
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