Man died of Legionnaires’ Disease caught from hot tub
Robert Brophy, 69, from Woodstown Rise, Woodstown Village, Knocklyon in Dublin visited the house, on March 7 2003, which he hoped to buy for his family.
TheAn estate agent brought him and his wife to the deck area at the rear of the house and took the cover off the hot tub.
The inquest at Dublin Coroners’ Court heard that Mr Brophy put his hand into the tub to see how hot it was and said “God, that’s fantastic.”
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell heard medical evidence which proved that samples from the hot tub had tested positive for Legionnaires’ Disease. He returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
Mr Brophy began to feel very unwell five days after visiting the house in Cunningham Drive, Dalkey.
His wife Sylvia told the inquest that he had visited his GP, who prescribed him antibiotics.
His condition deteriorated and after ringing the GP again, Mr Brophy went to Tallaght Hospital.
His condition was diagnosed as urgent by a nurse but he had to wait five hours before he was seen by a doctor.
He was seen again by the medical registrar of the hospital, Dr Chong Yew Tan the next morning.
Lawyers for the Brophy family asked Dr Tan about his view on the fact that Mr Brophy had not been seen by a doctor until then, despite having a letter from his GP stating that he was seriously ill and the nurse having diagnosed him as an urgent case.
He died of multi organ failure on April 17, having been transferred to Beaumont Hospital.
Dr Farrell, giving his verdict, said Mr Brophy died from respiratory failure due to Legionella pneumonia infection. He had contracted Legionnaires’ Disease, having had contact with the hot water tub.
