The following are extracts from postings on the 'uk.rec.waterways' newsgroup from 1/10/2005 to 4/10/2005, titled 'Scraggy (Kevin Scragg)' and later, 'Scraggy'
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I don't know how many of you knew Scraggy (Kevin Scragg) He and Viv lived Monarch at Fradley, before that they had the tug Molly Maquire. Viv phoned me this evening with the devastating news that poor Kev died this afternoon. He started with flue symtons only a few days ago. The hospital seem to think it was Weils (Not sure how to spell it!) disease. The rat related infection from canal water.
This is such sad news as Kev, I think was only in his early thirties. An extremely likeable and very talented young man, totally dedicated to the canals and canal life. I know that many, especially those round Fradley Junction will miss him greatly.
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Yes, the Weils Disease was confirmed. He had apparently been dredging in a particularly foul lake. On the Tuesday he thought he had a cold, went to the doctors a couple of days later and was sent to hospital immediately but died the following day (Friday). All over in four days. Extremely sad. He was very likeable person and we got on very well.
A local lock keeper also had a very cloes call a few months ago when a thorn he got in his leg whilst strimming also passed on Weild Disease which was subsequently complicated by MRSA caught whilst on IC in hospital! It was a close call for a couple of days.
So, if you have been near canal water, a) always wash in clean water afterwards, b) insist your doctor takes any flue-like symptoms seriously from the outset and tests you for WD.
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Last Saturday I posted about Scraggy's (Kevin Sgragg) sad death on the Friday. The death certificate now confirms that he did die of Weils disease! (I've forgotten the medical term for it). The rat urine related virus which can be picked up from canal water, or in fact any water where rats can be. I think poor Kevs untimely death at such a young age underlines the seriousness of this pernicious virus which can lurk in the innocent water of the canals. Like many of us, I had vaguely heard of Weils disease, but had never headed much about it when delving bown the weed hatch or handling wet mooring ropes with hands which could probably have a cut or graze on them. I am probably been over dramatic, but the severity and speed of Kevins death was alarming.
He felt a bit off on the Sunday feeling as if he had the beginings of flue. He went work on the Monday but came home in the afternoon and went to bed saying he felt awful and had a bad headache,his eyesight seemed odd and his legs felt heavy and ached. The next day he let Viv call the doctor. She knew he must have been really feeling ill as normally he would go nowhere near doctors! On the Wednesday he was admitted to hospital where all kinds of test were conducted, incuding blood tests. Viv said that she and Kevin suspected what it was but, either the doctor or the hospital (I've forgotton which!)seemed to know little about it and had to look it up on the web. By the Thursday he was on all sorts of life support machines, and as Viv said it seemed that his body systems were closing down one by one. He even whispered to her that he didn't think he was going to make it! On the Friday they nearly lost him at about twelve oclock but managed to bring him back but finally lost him just after four pm. Even then they could not confirm that the cause of death was Weils disease. They had to await the results of the blood tests. I think this illustrates the severity of the strain of the disease he must have picked up, and how little was known about it!
I am sure Viv will not mind me disclosing on this ng the details of this tragic story, as it could help to make us more aware of this real danger in the water.
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I heard last evening that Dave Fletcher (lately CEO of BW) fought the disease for 4 months, but happily survived. He'd actually jumped into canal to retrieve his wife's cycle.
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I understand that BW staff now carry cards to be given to the doctor or medics if they become ill with flu like symtoms. If this is true, it illustrates that BW are very much aware of the risk from Weils disease, therefore I would suggest that they should extend this by issuing these cards with the boat licence to all canal users, or at least produce a leaflet pointing out the risks when coming into contact with canal water. i/e wear waterproof plasters on cuts on hands etc. wash hands after being in the water etc. I understand that many people contact Weils disease in a mild flue like form but are unaware that they have got it, and possibly the antibiotics they have taken for what they thought was flue has dealt with it.
Possibly David, the Dave Fletcher incident made BW aware of the gravity of the situation hence the issuing of cards to their staff.
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A few years ago I commissioned an article on Weil's Disease from a doctor and waterways enthusiast. It's available on
http://iwn.iwai.ie/v29i1/leptospirosis.PDF
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There is a Leptospirosis web site containing details of Weils disease.
http://www.leptospirosis.org/
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