A FORMER soldier who was struck down by the potentially lethal Legionnaire’s disease after using a leisure centre has told of how he was just hours from dying.

Graham Leach, 68, says he is lucky to be alive after contracting the killer bug.

He was rushed to Colchester General Hospital and remained unconscious for almost two weeks.

Talking exclusively to the Gazette, Mr Leach said: “I was less than two hours from death.”

He had started using the Lifestyles gym in Walton three times a week last year in a bid to get fit.

“The first time I knew I was ill was on the Friday evening when I was vomiting profusely and had terrible headaches,” said Mr Leach.

“The next day I was totally out of it and disorientated.”

The ex-military man was so confused, he set off for the town’s Remembrance Day parade a day early.

“I put my coat and medals on and went to the Royal Albion pub where we meet before the parade,” said Mr Leach, of Walton Road, Walton.

“I was with a couple of mates and became seriously unwell. I was acting funny and in the end they called the ambulance and I got carted off.”

He remembers little about what happened over the coming days as doctors tried to keep him alive.

“For maybe about two weeks I don’t remember anything," he said.

“When I later asked the doctor what was wrong with me he said I’d caught legionella which gave me pneumonia, blood sepsis and kidney failure.

“The doctor said ‘You’re lucky - you were less than two hours from death’, which was a bit of a shock. I looked legionella up on the internet and it can be dangerous. It can kill a lot of people - I was just lucky."

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Outbreak - Walton Lifestyles leisure centre

The outbreak forced the Tendring Council-run leisure centre to close while a major investigation was carried out.

A council spokesman said: “A wide range of modifications and improvements have been carried out at the site since the positive test was recorded.

“We have now re-opened Walton-on-the-Naze Lifestyles after a comprehensive series of legionella tests revealed negative results.

“It would be inappropriate to comment on any future discussions with the customer at this time.”