A family is seeking the advice of clinical negligence solicitors after a grandfather became the 14th person to die from a superbug at a British hospital.

John Saunders, 66, was admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital to have a blood clot removed, the Mirror reports.

His official cause of death was pneumonia, but the superbug Clostrodium difficile (C difficile) was listed as a significant contributing factor.

Jane Stanfield, Mr Saunders’ daughter, said the family is shocked and angry, particularly after hospital chief executive Kim Hodgson declared wards safe.

"I went in to see him just hours before he died and he was struggling to breathe and really uncomfortable. A lot more could have been done for him," she commented.

A spokesperson for the hospital said it would investigate if the family wishes to contact its staff.

It was reported last month that 62 cases of the bacteria have been noted at Eastbourne District General Hospital since January and a total of 14 people have now died there as a result.