A RUGBY star and his baby daughter were hit by a crippling virus during a family holiday.
Jake Ball, 26, and Charlotte, nine months, both developed the infection called hand, foot and mouth in Cyprus.
The illness causes spots, blisters and a rash.
Wales ace Jake, who also plays for Llanelli Scarlets, was unable to walk due to foot swelling.
He was with wife Christie, 25, Charlotte and Amelia, two, at Thomson’s five star Aeneas Resort and Spa in Nissi Beach.
Jake, who has now instructed solicitors over the June outbreak, said: “It was a nightmare.”
Thomson confirmed a “small number” of cases at the resort and apologised to the family.
Ball, who was also on holiday with wife Christie, 25, and second daughter Amelia, two, said: “Considering Charlotte’s age we were obviously very concerned by her symptoms and we knew we had to take her to a hospital.
“Doctors quickly diagnosed her as having hand, foot and mouth with impetigo and we were given medication and creams to treat her.
“We hoped that would be the end of it but on June 30th I found a spot in my beard and quickly more appeared over my hands, feet and mouth.
“It was hugely frustrating to get the condition and the pain was unbearable. I literally could not walk very far due to the pain in my feet.
“I spent much more time in my hotel room than I would have liked. It was a complete nightmare.” Ball’s daughter Charlotte had fallen ill five days into their holiday and was taken to hospital after a couple of days displaying hand, foot and mouth symptoms.
The Wales forward was then crippled for days after the disease broke out around his mouth and spread to his hands and feet.
The Sun
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4300467/llanelli-scarlets-ace-jake-ball-crippling-virus-cyprus/