A GREAT-GRANDFATHER has told of how he had to learn to walk again after being hospitalised for almost eight weeks when he contracted Legionnaires' Disease while on holiday in Bulgaria.

Colin Cookson, 72, and his wife Iris, 66, booked a two-week stay at a holiday complex in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, through Balkan Holidays.

The couple, from Billingham, had stayed at the four-star hotel on a number of previous occasions and were looking forward to returning in August 2015, but just five days after arriving at the resort, Mr Cookson said he began to suffer flu-like symptoms.

The following day he sought treatment from a local medical centre where he was put on an IV drip and diagnosed with a chest infection.

On August 18, Mr Cookson began experiencing pains in his back and chest and returned to the medical centre where doctors sent him for an x-ray. He was given further oral medication and told he had pneumonia.

The following day his condition had deteriorated further and he was struggling to breathe.

His condition got so bad that he was admitted to hospital in Burgas, about 40 kilometres away from the resort, and was in hospital for six days before being flown home to the UK by air ambulance.

The former stage rigger was taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he was isolated and diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.

After five weeks he was transferred to North Tees Hospital in Stockton, nearer to his home, where he spent another fortnight convalescing before being well enough to return home.

Five months after he first experienced symptoms, Mr Cookson is yet to return to full health and claims his stamina has been affected by the illness. He has struggled to learn to walk again, after suffering muscle wastage as a result of his illness, and still relies on crutches to get around.

The couple claim the air conditioner in their room was not working properly and that Balkan Holidays failed to provide support to Mrs Cookson.

Mr Jackson said: “The illness has taken its toll and I am still not back to my old self. It’s not just me that has suffered, my wife has had to spend a lot of time looking after me."

Mr Jackson has instructed his solicitors, Irwin Mitchell, to investigate.

A spokesperson for Balkan Holidays said: “There is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of Mr Cookson’s illness and we are unable to comment further until these enquiries are completed. In the meantime we wish Mr Cookson a speedy recovery.”