THE first Legionnaires' disease sufferer to be released from hospital has spoken of his living hell after fighting off the killer bug.

With his temperature spiralling out of control, Bryan Jones from Hampton Dene, Hereford, believed he was seeing rats climb the bedroom walls as he started to hallucinate.

"At first it just felt like flu, but within 24 hours it suddenly changed and I have never ever felt that bad," explained the 44-year-old.

"I was sick, hallucinating, had diarrhoea, was aching all over, and sweating profusely as my temperature went over 104 and off the scale of our thermometer."

Having consulted his GP, the Rank Taxi driver was quickly moved into isolation in Hereford County Hospital and was soon told he had Legionnaires' disease.

At this point his wife Debbie feared the worst as news broke that two people had died from Legionella.

"Because Bryan is asthmatic and has chest pains, we did begin to think we might never see him again," she said.

"He had been so ill with that fever that he imagined rats were running around the house."

"But the hospital staff were brilliant and gave him anything he asked for and he gradually got better," she added.

Now back in the safety of his Honeysuckle Close home, Bryan is still feeling the after-effects.

"My joints and bones are still quite sore and it feels like I've got pins and needles all up my arm. It is really hard to sleep."

However, despite the pain, tiredness and boredom of remaining at home, Bryan has retained his sense of humour.

"I worked out that I lost one and a half stone in a week, and even though I was thinking of going on a diet, I would not recommend Legionnaires' disease to anyone who wants to lose weight," he added.

Legionnaires' Disease timetable 24-hour Hotline: 01785 231 011

Oct 24 Male, in 70s, Died

Nov 5 Female, in 50s, Stable

Nov 6 Female, in 50s, Stable

Nov 7 Male, 40s, Discharged

Nov 8 Male, in 70s, Discharged

Nov 10 Male, in 50s, Stable

Nov 11 Male, in 30s Discharged

Nov 11 Female, in 40s, Discharged

Nov 11 Male, in 50s, Stable

Nov 12 Male, in 60s, Discharged

Nov 12 Male, in 60s, Stable

Nov 12 Woman, 40s, Discharged

Nov 13 Woman in 90s Discharged

Nov 14 Male, 70s, Stable

Nov 14 Male, 60s, Stable

Nov 15 Male, 60s, Stable

Nov 15 Male, 70s, Discharged

Nov 15 Male, 70s, Stable

Nov 15 Male, 50s, Stable

Nov 15 Male, 70s, Stable

Nov 15, Female, 50s, Stable

Nov 15, Male. 40s, Stable

Nov 17, Male 70s, Stable

Nov 19. Male 50s, Stable