It’s been revealed that Johnny Depp’s daughter Lily-Rose battled E. coli poisoning earlier this month rather than blood poisoning as initially reported.

Staff at Pinewood Studios, where Johnny had been filming Sweeney Todd, were told that Lily-Rose’s kidneys shut down as a result of the virus and she was very lucky to survive.

A source reports: “Everyone gasped when we were given the real reason for her illness. It was touch and go for a while.”

E. coli (Escherichia coli) is one of the main types of bacteria found in the lower intestines of mammals but some strains cause potentially severe illness in humans. Around 1000 people a year are treated for E. coli poisoning in the UK, usually contracted from eating contaminated food and drink. It has up to a 50% mortality rate in the elderly and children under five and can also lead to long-term kidney and sight problems.

Filming on Sweeney Todd was temporarily halted while Johnny looked after Lily-Rose but staff at the studio have been told by Warner Bros producers that it will resume again on Monday.