'We were told it was touch and go ... We are all praying for her'

WOMAN, 57, FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE IN GREEK HOSPITAL AFTER CONTRACTING LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE ON HOLIDAY

- By PETER CRAIG

A HULL woman is fighting for her life in hospital after contracting Legionnaires' disease while on holiday on the Mediterranean island of Crete.

The niece of Donna Jobling, 57, of west Hull, said her aunt is in intensive care at Venizeleio Hospital in Heraklion and her family are praying for her back home.

Donna and husband Sidney were on an all-inclusive holiday to Crete with friends, Paula and Nicolas Mason, of Glasgow Street, Hull.

The first few days of the £1,500-per-couple holiday were enjoyable. But on June 5, Donna fell ill and had to rest. She suffered from a chest infection and became seriously ill two days later.

On June 11, doctors at the hospital put Donna into an induced coma. Tests confirmed she had Legionnaires' disease brought on by Legionella pneumophila, her niece, Claire, told Hull Live.

The infection triggered acute respiratory failure and pneumonia, her family said. Legionnaires' is most commonly contracted through inhaling water droplets from contaminated air conditioning systems.