Ready Steady Cook star Ross Burden 'died from Legionnaires disease'

Ross Burden's mother blasted Auckland hospital after her son died of Legionnaires' disease via an infected water supply.

18:02 24 November 2014

Ready Steady Cook star Ross Burden died from Legionnaires disease because of an infected water supply at Auckland hospital, it has been reported. Previous reports said that he died of cancer in July.

Burden’s birth mother Jude Harwood, has blasted the hospital over the incident after it has emerged that the celeb chef breathed in Legionella bacteria in Auckland Hospital’s hot water system. He was in the hospital receiving treatment for leukemia.

Writing to the hospital to lodge a formal complaint, she said: "Sadly, he died before he could complain - he said they had used tap water all night."

"It's a sick hospital to have Legionnaires," she added. "Where was the maintenance man going around checking the water system? Why weren't they checking the pipes? He was so vulnerable [from the cancer treatment] he didn't have a white cell in his body.

"I just don’t want someone else to lose their son and die of Legionnaires disease when they could have come home."

In a statement, the health board expressed its condolences and said it had been in contact with the family.

"We regret that this patient contracted this infection while in our care and have extended an invitation to meet with them to discuss this. The board was reviewing the clinical care it provided but it would not be appropriate to comment further while the case was before the coroner.”