A woman who fell into a 10ft-deep sinkhole was “lucky” to get swift treatment after her hospitalisation was almost even more serious.

Laura Gerber fell into a collapsed sewer in Jubilee Road, Watford, earlier this week, before later becoming ill and being admitted to hospital.

The 23-year-old’s boyfriend, Jason Topping, thought it would “in and out”, but she remained there “in a bad way” until yesterday afternoon (March 12).

“She was apparently lucky to come in when we did as any later could have been more serious,” Jason told the Watford Observer.

Watford Observer: The sinkhole before and after drainingThe sinkhole before and after draining (Image: Laura Gerber/contribution)

What was described as a "serious infection" left Laura unable to keep food down and she vomited three times before reaching hospital.

“I’ve never seen so much vomit come out of a woman,” Jason, 26, added.

Laura fell into the hole during the early hours on Sunday (March 12), when it looked "just like a puddle", before swallowing sewage. 

While in hospital she described receiving blood clotting injections and a regular drip, as well as suffering from a sore throat.

She will have to visit her GP soon for tests and a check-up to make sure the infection does not return.

Watford Observer: Scrape along Laura's sideScrape along Laura's side (Image: Laura Gerber)

The hospital suspects the infection was Leptospirosis, Jason said, a disease spread through animals' urine that can cause various symptoms including being sick.

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He was apparently told by hospital staff that this was the first such case they had ever seen.

The couple said they wanted to share their experience as they initially had no idea how dangerous what happened had been.

Watford Observer: Laura Gerber in Jubilee RoadLaura Gerber in Jubilee Road (Image: Laura Gerber)

They described it as two “near-death experiences” and an eye-opener about the risks of Leptospirosis.

The hazard has since been cordoned off but reopening the road could take time.

Thames Water said its teams “are working as quickly and safely as possible” but it could not yet give a completion date for the “complex repair”.