A mother hoping to get a base tan before going on holiday to Tenerife had two sunbed sessions within 24 hours – and ended up in a coma.
Caroline Wood, 40, spent a month in hospital after collapsing and falling down the stairs following the second sunbed stint at a salon.
The mother-of-three, who is now undergoing extensive rehabilitation care at a specialist brain injury clinic, says she has been unable to work since the sunbed sessions three months ago.
Caroline Wood spent a month in hospital after collapsing and falling down the stairs following the second sunbed stint at a salon (pictured are burns allegedly suffered from the sunbeds)
Ms Wood, of Rainham, Kent, went for her first session on May 3 with her friend Sarah Davidson to get a base colour before going on holiday.
She returned to Tans Professional Tanning in nearby Gillingham the following day for a second session.
But less than 12 hours later Caroline became dehydrated and collapsed, falling down the stairs at home.
Her teenage daughter dialled 999 and she was rushed to King’s College Hospital in south London where medics investigated what might have set off the illness.
As she lay in an induced coma, marks were discovered on her back.
Caroline and her partner, Peter Rossiter, were forced to cancel their dream holiday to Tenerife which would have been the first time the family had been abroad together.
The mother-of-three says she has been unable to work since the sunbed sessions three months ago
The salon says she ignored safety advice.
Caroline, who works at the Howard School in Rainham, said she had used sunbeds before without harmful effects, but is now warning others to take care.
She said: ‘I would not want what has happened to me to happen to anyone else.’
Her partner Peter, 50, an online retailer, said: ‘My advice about sunbeds is don’t go on them. There’s plenty of media coverage about the risks.’
He said the couple have sought legal advice.
Pal Sarah, 35, a mother-of- four also from Rainham, added: ‘Caroline had eight minutes the first time and then asked for ten the second time which I told her that I thought was too much.’
Advice on clients’ appointment card reads: ‘Be patient, some people tan quickly, while others take time.
‘After your first visit please wait 48 hours before your next session.’
The salon owner said Caroline ignored safety advice.
Roland Toogood said: ‘Being a member of the Sunbed Association, we comply with the sunbed code of practice to ensure that the highest professional standards are maintained for the welfare of all our customers.
‘When visiting the salon for the first time, everybody receives an induction on how to operate the sunbeds, how many minutes they should tan for and how to continue to tan safely.
‘Because of this the vast majority of our customers tan responsibly. Unfortunately Miss Wood ignored all of the advice she was given.’