A woman diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease in the Cumbria outbreak broke down in tears as she told how she thought she was going to die.

Mother-of-three Elaine Kite was first told she had flu but later tests proved she had contracted the disease.

I panicked. I thought 'I am going to die'

Elaine Kite

The 46-year-old first felt ill a week ago after going shopping.

Mrs Kite, from Barrow-in-Furness, had only been in the town for half an hour and had parked near the arts and entertainment centre Forum 28.

An air conditioning unit at the council-run building is believed to be the source of the outbreak.

Speaking at Furness General Hospital where she is being treated, Mrs Kite recalled her terror at being told she had the disease.

"I really thought I was going to die."

Disbelief

Her GP initially told her to take paracetamol and rest after she phoned to complain of a headache and aching limbs on Tuesday.

But her condition worsened and she started shivering and had trouble breathing.

Mrs Kite parked her car near Forum 28

She was taken to hospital by ambulance for tests where she was told she had pneumonia.

And on Friday a microbiologist delivered the news that she had contracted Legionnaires' disease.

"I panicked. I thought 'I am going to die'.

"I really thought I was going to die. I was very, very shocked.

"I just could not believe it.

"I did not think things like that happened in this country, let alone in Barrow."

'Lazy'

Mrs Kite, who has a 26-year-old daughter and two sons, aged 24 and 17, said she had only caught the bug because she was "lazy".

She had decided to drive instead of walk into Barrow town centre which meant walking past Forum 28 to and from her car.

"I am getting through it now but I get a bit emotional about it.

"I have got three children at home and I'm only in my 40s," she said.

"Is it going to have a long term effect?" she sobbed. "I just don't know what I am going to do."

Holiday hopes

She hopes to be well enough to go on holiday to Cyprus with her husband, project manager Charlie, in three weeks' time.

"I should be going on holiday and I was really looking forward to that," she said.

When asked about reports that poor maintenance at Forum 28 might be to blame for the outbreak, she said: "I would be very, very annoyed if it was proved to be poor maintenance.

"I don't think I would be the only one either."