A man living in a mould-ridden apartment who spent three months in a coma after his pancreas to 'melted away', is planning to sue his former landlord.
Terence Clay, 33, claims living with a serious mould infestation in his Sherwood home in inner Brisbane for two years caused major health issues which almost cost him his life.
He was eventually rushed to hospital with breathing difficulties in January and feared he was having a 'heart attack'.
Mr Clay's condition rapidly deteriorated and he had to undergo an emergency tracheostomy - in surgery where a hole is cut in the neck and a tube inserted into the windpipe so the patient can breathe.
'Apparently, I passed away for a couple of minutes, my brother told me, and then they revived and put me in a three-month medically induced coma,' he told 7News.
Terence Clay, 33, claims living with a serious mould infestation in his Sherwood home in inner Brisbane for two years caused major health issues which almost cost him his life
While doctors who treated him were not able to attribute his condition to the mould in his unit, a Sunshine Coast doctor, Sandeep Gupta, said it is possible that exposure to mould could cause necrotising pancreatitis.
How does mould get into our bodies?
Mould spores and their toxins can enter the body through:
*Breathing (inhalation) – through the respiratory system into the nose, throat, airways and lungs
*Eating or swallowing (ingestion) – by landing in the mouth or being in food (such as bread or fruit)
*The skin – by absorption or through a cut or scrape.
Source: Healthdirect
Doctors diagnosed Mr Clay with necrotising pancreatitis - a condition that occurs when there is a lack of blood supply to the pancreas causing the organ to 'die'.
'My pancreas melted away from the bacteria. So I've got about 10 per cent of my pancreas left,' Mr Clay said.
He also claims to have type-1 diabetes and PTSD as a result of his medical crisis.
It is understood 25 per cent of the population have a genetic vulnerability to mould - meaning any exposure can lead to organ damage.
While doctors who treated him were not able to directly attribute his condition to the mould in his unit, a Sunshine Coast doctor, Sandeep Gupta, said it is possible that exposure to mould could cause necrotising pancreatitis.
'There are some animal studies showing that various mycotoxins (toxins from mould species) can cause severe damage to the pancreas, as has happened in this case, but no more certain evidence showing a link between pancreatitis and mould exposure,' he said.
'However I would certainly not rule out the possibility.'
Mr Clay claims that he asked his landlord to deal with the mould in his unit in August 2021, but it was only painted over.
High humidity, poor ventilation and poor waterproofing in rental properties is linked with chronic mould problems.
But the problem can also occur - and continually re-occur - where moisture has gotten inside a wall cavity from a leaking roof.
Mr Clay has approached Maurice Blackburn over a potential claim against his former landlord.
The law firm's website says if a tenant develops long-term health problems as a result of mould, they may be entitled compensation for their injuries.
'In order to go ahead with a claim, the tenant needs a doctor to assess the injury as more than five per cent 'whole person impairment',' Maurice Blackburn says.
'Tenants are entitled to live in a property that's free of indoor mould and its health risks. It's up to landlords, in cooperation with their tenants, to ensure that rental properties are well ventilated and stay dry.'
Mr Clay has approached Maurice Blackburn over a potential claim against his former landlord. The firm says people who develop health problems because of mould may be entitled to compensation
Living with mould can lead to respiratory infections, irritation to the nose, eyes and throat and skin rashes, says Worksafe Queensland.
In some cases a more serious condition can develop called hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
It is a severe mould infection, usually in the lungs.
In other cases mould can cause fungal infections, where a fungus grows in or on human tissue, or even become 'systemic'.
'Systemic reactions are when the mould attacks the organs. These can be life threatening,' information from Worksafe Queensland says.