St Clements Court in Herne Bay, where Mr Platts lived

by Gerry Warren

A man died after contracting legionnaires’ disease at a sheltered housing scheme in Herne Bay.

Retired company director Geoffrey Platts, 88, was living at St Clement’s Court, in Canterbury Road, when he was taken ill and the condition was diagnosed.

An environmental health investigation was launched by the city council, but he died in Kent and Canterbury Hospital on November 1 last year.

His daughter Lyn Strong, also from Herne Bay, told an inquest at Canterbury Coroner’s Court she was concerned about the water in his flat.

"my father was supposed to be in the safety of warden-assisted accommodation, but there was something in his water" – geoffrey platts' daughter lyn strong

She said: “I know he was already poorly, but he might still be alive today had he not contracted legionella in his flat.

"My father was supposed to be in the safety of warden-assisted accommodation, but there was something in his water.

“There was stagnant water in his shower pipes and the pressure was very low. It should never have been present in my father’s flat in the first place.”

She said that since his death, her father’s flat had been gutted by Anchor Trust, which manages the building.

But coroner Rebecca Cobb also heard Mr Platts had numerous other medical problems and had previously been admitted to hospital before contracting legionnaires’.

Pathologist Miklos Perenyei gave the cause of his death as septicaemia but said legionella was a contributory factor.

He said the infection was not usually serious for healthy individuals but those with underlying medical conditions were at risk.

Miss Cobb said that because of Mrs Strong’s concerns, she was adjourning the inquest for more information.