A club director is set to sue a luxury relaxation and spa resort in St Lucia for negligence after claiming she was left with a broken jaw and scarring following a treatment.
Kim O'Brien, 38, had jetted to the BodyHoliday hotel to rest and recuperate but was allegedly left with devastating facial injuries.
The Operations Director for Manchester's Warehouse Project arrived for her £6,734 eight-night stay on January 9 last year.
She had been suffering a cold so staff recommended the Prana breathe treatment but said things almost immediately went wrong.
Ms O'Brien said: 'The therapist seated me on a low stool in front of a solid block bed and prepared a bowl of boiling water.
'After pouring what I believed to be eucalyptus oil into the bowl from a white industrial-looking bottle, I was told to put my head over the bowl and a towel was placed over my head.
'After just one breath I had to come back up for air; it was so strong.
'I remember taking two or three more breaths and then coming around in the waiting room confused and in a lot of pain.'
Kim O'Brien, 38, says she fainted and smashed her face into a stool as she collapsed
It caused serious facial injuries and she has had to endure many surgeries to repair the damage
Ms O'Brien's stay at BodyHoliday St Lucia cost her £6,734 for eight nights in January last year
Ms O'Brien claims she had passed out during the treatment and fell from the stool. The impact had caused serious facial injuries and she was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment and placed on a morphine drip.
Although staff claimed she had suffered a seizure, bloodwork and a CT scan suggested otherwise.
She explained, 'The hotel stuck to their story that I suffered a seizure, but it just didn't ring true - it's something I've never suffered with before and the hospital found no signs of a neurological issue.
'I have since found out that the treatment carries a high risk of fainting, yet no safety measures were put in place in case that happened.
'I went into that room expecting to be looked after, but I came out with injuries that have changed my life.'
She was referred to a maxillofacial specialist in St Lucia, who advised that her jaw had been dislocated - she endured three excruciating attempts at manually manipulating it back into place, before her jaw was wired closed and she was discharged with painkilling injections.
Now she is preparing to sue the resort for negligence through her lawyers JMW Solicitors
