British tourist, 57, fights for her life in Crete hospital after catching Legionnaires' Disease on dream holiday
Donna Jobling, 57, from west Hull, is currently in intensive care at Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion after falling ill just days into the trip.
She had jetted out on the £1,500 all-inclusive holiday with her husband Sidney and their friends, Paula and Nicolas Mason, of Glasgow Street, Hull, but reported feeling unwell after contracting a chest infection on June 5.
Mrs Jobling, who suffers from 'complex' medical conditions including epilepsy, quickly became seriously ill and was taken to hospital on June 11 where doctors have put her in an induced coma.
Tests confirmed she had contracted Legionnaires' disease brought on by Legionella pneumophila, which triggered acute respiratory failure and pneumonia.
Mrs Jobling's 'devastated' family, who have since jetted out to see her on the Greek island, describe her as being like 'a mother to us all'.
Her niece Claire, 42, has been back-and-forth between Crete and Hull and is currently in East Yorkshire to obtain Mrs Jobling's insurance documents before flying back out.
'We are all devastated and beside ourselves,' the mother-of-six said.
'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.'
The 42-year-old says Crete has long been a family favourite holiday destination, and one they all have 'happy memories' of.
Upon visiting the the Mediterranean island now, Claire can only see her auntie for 30 minutes in the 'strict' intensive care unit but says the staff are caring for her well.
Mrs Mason has also returned home with her husband after their close friend was admitted to hospital.
The 52-year-old said the holiday has been booked as a surprise by both her husband and Mr Jobling and that the start of the holiday had been 'lovely'.
'Then it came out from nowhere,' she said.
Legionnaires' is most commonly contracted through inhaling water droplets from contaminated air conditioning systems.
And while the source of the disease has not yet been identified in this case, Easyjet Holidays, with whom the couples travelled, have moved other customers out of the hotel they were staying in.
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.'
It is understood that the hotel is currently working with local health authorities on the island.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Sam Faiers is blasted for sharing 'dangerous and uneducated' advice with sister Billie over her son's medical issue - after facing backlash for saying her children don't wear sunscreen
Sam Faiers has sparked backlash on social media for sharing 'dangerous' medical advice with her sister Billie, after she opened up about her son Arthur's new medical issue on their new ITV2 show. The former TOWIE star is appearing alongside her sibling in their reality show Sister Act, and in Tuesday's episode, Sam, 34, raised eyebrows with a suggestion for her nephew Arthur, eight. In a clip from the episode, which was shared on Instagram, Sam and Billie, 35, chatted about Arthur having his tonsils removed. Billie said: 'Arthur is getting his tonsils out. He had tonsillitis I'd say six times last year, and it made him so poorly. 'When the doctor looked at them, straight away he said to me ''nah…'' he went ''they are really, really unhealthy tonsils.'' 'But tonsils serve no purpose in your body.' Sam, who releases her own brand of collagen, is quick to share her thoughts, and later admitted she's keen to follow methods around holistic health. Her first suggestion was to encourage her sister to get an intolerance test for Arthur before having the surgery. She said: 'Everything in your body serves a purpose. 'When you're not well and something inflames in your body or your tonsils are raised or your hair is falling out, or you've got a rash, it's because your body is telling you something isn't right. 'So it's Arthur's body's way of telling him I've got an allergy, or you know, I've got a virus and that's his way. 'So when they're out, how else is his body going to tell you that something is wrong?' Agreeing with her sister, Billie noted that she also felt her son may have some sort of intolerance, but fans were quick to criticise Sam's advice, and brand it 'dangerous' in the comments. Posts included: 'She's no doctor and shouldn't be allowed to give advice thats dangerous;' 'Sam who encourages children to not wear sunscreen and doubts effectiveness of nhs mammograms; Mrs Know It All. Fans were quick to criticise Sam's advice for her sister, and brand it 'dangerous and uneducated' in the comments 'Don't ever mess about waiting for tonsils out mine was left when I was you by 17 rushed into hospital because it made me soo ill had swollen all over from leaking I've had fibromyalgia for 15 years nothing can help and now servere arthritis all over from sport, pus, single parent, disabled daughter. 'I wish I could dream everything be OK with positivity or a cream or holistic but life not like that.' Last month Sam faced huge backlash for revealing she doesn't put sunscreen on her children in a controversial statement, where she claimed some SPF brands are 'harmful' and full of 'toxic ingredients'. In recent months, doctors have been forced to speak out after videos claiming sun tan lotion contains chemicals that are 'more cancerous than the sun', have racked up tens of thousands of views on TikTok. Among those peddling the information are influencers with thousands of followers, including Lauryn Goodman and Kelsey Parker. Most recently, Sam was branded 'irresponsible and naive' by a horrified skin doctor after admitting her three children don't wear sunscreen because she wrongly claimed many SPF brands are 'harmful'. Dr Perry, who is the owner of skin clinics chain Cosmedics , claimed the reality star is 'misleading' fans into not using sunscreen on their children and it can 'double the risk of getting skin cancer' as they 'do not build up a tolerance to sun exposure'. Sam revealed that she doesn't use suncream on her children by sharing a snap of her youngest son Edward, two, playing in the shade. She wrote: 'So this is always a bit of a controversial one, but honestly, me and my whole family don't actually wear sunscreen. 'Over the years, the kids have built up a really good tolerance to being in the sun. Of course if it's really hot and the sun feels too harsh I'll make sure we head into the shade... usually around lunchtime we'll go in, have something to eat and just avoid those peak hours. 'I'm really careful about sunscreen in general, because a lot of them are actually pretty harmful and full of toxic ingredients.' Sam then revealed the alternative way she makes sure her children stay safe in the sun as she added: 'If you do want to protect your kids, I think SPF swimwear is such a good and safer option. 'But also, don't be afraid of the sun! Early in the morning or later in the afternoon when it's not as strong, I love letting the kids run around and soak it up, it's good for them. 'That said, I do always bring a Tallow Zinc SPF with me when I go away, just in case. And hats or caps are a must! Especially for us ladies because no one wants extra sun damage (I've had my fair share over the years because I am such a sun lover!).' Sam isn't the first celebrity to admit they don't use SPF on their children after Kelsey Parker, TV personality and widow of The Wanted singer Tom Parkewr, previously claimed that her children 'don't burn' and wrongly alleged SPF 'causes skin cancer'. Dr Perry, who is the owner of skin clinics chain Cosmedics, claimed the reality star is 'misleading' fans into not using sunscreen on her children. He told Daily Mail: 'I am absolutely horrified at Sam Faiers' comments to followers (2.5 million of them!) are both irresponsible and naive. 'Children do not build up a tolerance to sun exposure, they are just storing up more sun damage for later on in life.' He continued: 'It is a well-known fact that children if they get any degree of sunburn as a child it more than doubles their risk of getting skin cancer at a later date so that is completely false and misleading. 'Children do NOT build up a tolerance to sun exposure. I would totally advocate the use of sun protective clothing as a alternative for those who do not tolerate suncream being regularly applied, especially for children regularly in and out of the water, but they will only cover certain areas so an SPF is still required. 'It is misleading to say that children need to have sunlight in order to promote their health as they will absorb more than enough sunlight through day-to-day activities rather as an over exposure or potential sunburn on holidays. 'The standards that still apply and are good guidance are that people apply SPF when out in particularly hot sun environments and do not take the risk of getting any sunburn and that involves wearing hats, appropriate clothing and avoiding hot times of the day for sunbathing.' 'Remember that ANY tan or sunburn is creating damage to the skin so SPF should always be worn in the sun,' he concluded. In response to the backlash, Sam posted on Instagram that she wasn't a medical expert, and she was simply sharing her own experience with SPF. She wrote: 'Wow, I've received so many kind and supportive messages from my sunscreen post. Thank you. 'I'd definitely recommend doing a little research into which tallow you'd like to use, there are lots of amazing options out there.' 'PS: Just sharing my experience and tips (not an expert).'
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Are you fitter than Trump's cabinet?
For a president who has been seen scoffing McDonald's so often, it's perhaps surprising how much emphasis the Trump administration is placing on health and fitness. First, Donald Trump resurrected the presidential fitness test for the nation's teenagers, and now his secretaries of state are getting in on the act. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the health secretary, Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, teamed up this week to challenge Americans to ' the Pete and Bobby challenge '. What does the test involve? One hundred push-ups and 50 pull-ups 'in any order you want, in under ten minutes', explains Mr Kennedy. 'Five minutes is the top standard that we want to meet,' adds Mr Hegseth in the social media video, filmed 'in the bowels of the Pentagon'. Ten minutes is a serious challenge, I thought; five minutes is palpably insane. And yet I was soon puffing and panting away in The Telegraph gym to see if I could match up to the Trump cabinet members (both of whom say they completed the test). If you ask Google how many pull-ups the average man can do, the results vary wildly. 'Twelve minimum,' barks a chiselled Adonis on YouTube. 'Five to six,' says a more measured wikiHow. 'Zero' is the answer given by Ben Carew, an elite personal trainer who has trained Olympians, actors, and high-net-worth individuals at the boutique pH7 training studio in leafy north London. 'I'd say probably two per cent of men can do ten or more, but in my experience, 80 per cent can't do a single one.' I've been training with Carew once a week for the past two years, focusing on a variety of calisthenics and aerobic training, but when I tell him about the challenge, he's sceptical of my chances, to put it lightly. ' Pull-ups are probably the exercise most people find hardest overall,' he says, diplomatically. 'They're something you have to build up towards. I would say you'd have to be training multiple times a week for at least a few years to be able to do 50 easily.' For context, in our weekly sessions, I've built myself up to being able to do just about three sets of seven pull-ups and three sets of about 12 press-ups: well short of the Pete and Bobby challenge's total (I would politely ask you to remember that journalists are all about chasing stories, not lifting stories). I didn't fancy my chances much either. Mr Hegseth, 45, a military veteran himself, has frequently spoken about his desire to restore 'strength' and a 'warrior ethos' to America's armed forces, describing it as 'unacceptable' when confronted with a report suggesting two-thirds of the military are overweight. A fighting fit military is doubtless of vital importance, but as an average guy with no plans to enlist any time soon, I would need a plan. 'Break it down into short bursts, you don't want to push yourself to maximum effort because otherwise you'll burn out,' says Carew, advising me to do ten sets of five pull-ups and ten press-ups. Suitably warmed up, I got to it. The first set of pull-ups are easy enough; I'm raring to go, I could easily do more. My press-ups slide by easily, too. It takes me 28 seconds to complete the first round. Perhaps I could do this, after all. By my fourth set, though, I was flagging. After all, 21 pull-ups and 36 press-ups are the maximum I've ever done in a single session, and I'd already made it over that peak. My pull-ups got weaker – the next set I could only do four, then three, then two and a half. 'The halves still count,' I insisted. Likewise, my press-ups were slowing down; I could feel my arms beginning to burn. Suffice it to say, I didn't manage the challenge in five minutes or even ten. As I write, my arms are still shaking like jelly. That isn't to say it can't be done, though. Despite an injured rotator cuff that makes pull-ups tricky, Carew manages to turn in a respectable time of 5m46s. In their video, Mr Hegseth and Mr Kennedy explained that they managed 5m25s and 5m48s, respectively (though keen-eyed viewers will note that the video cuts away from actually showing them doing the challenge). The results As for me, I managed 70 press-ups and 30 pull-ups in the ten minutes. It's the most of each exercise I've ever done in a single session. A respectable showing, if I say so myself. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking a leaf out of the president's book and refuelling with a Big Mac.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Human contracts plague after camping trip near popular vacation spot
A California resident has tested positive for plague after likely being bitten by an infected flea while camping in South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County. The individual is currently recovering at home under medical care, following the diagnosis. Health officials in El Dorado County confirm that plague is naturally present in higher elevation areas of the county, advising precautions for individuals and their pets when outdoors. This case is among several reported across the US this year, including a cat in Colorado that died and an Arizona man who succumbed to the disease last month. Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is rare in America, with an average of seven human cases annually, and is treatable with antibiotics if caught early.
