News

Dad fights back from near-death experience with caravan stove pork chop

Undercooking food on a caravan stove can be deadly

by Chris Jefferies
Last month, you may have read a story on Caravan Times about a man who was paralysed after eating a pork chop that was cooked on his caravan stove.
Now, we’re very happy to report that father of three Darren Ashall from Chorley in Lancashire, is on the road to recovery, according to the Lancashire Evening Post.
After five months in hospital, Darran has been released from intensive care and he is adjusting to life at home, the local paper added.
Despite still suffering some of the side-effects of listeria meningitis, the bug he caught from the ill-prepared chop, the plant operator is in good spirits.
“I am definitely getting better. The feeling of going out in the fresh air after being stuck indoors for months was amazing. The first thing I did when I got home was eat a bacon buttie – I’d been really longing for one after being in hospital for so long,” he said.
Darran is one of just 200 people worldwide to have been diagnosed with this rare disease, which he caught after failing to cook his meat properly on a caravan stove.
He is also due to appear on Channel Five’s The Wright Stuff Extra to talk about his experience, which he hopes to write up as a book one day.
The local paper also reports that Darran is hoping to return to work once or twice a week in the near future.
Caravan owners are advised that the symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of the common cold. To find out more information, support the search for a vaccine or get a symptom card, please visit the Meningitis UK website.