Couple Take Legal Action after Contracting Severe Food Poisoning
A young couple are taking legal action after falling ill with food poisoning whilst on holiday at a five star hotel in Egypt.
Illness
Marc Trundley, 27, and partner Hayley Gavin, 29, paid £1,520 for an 11-night stay at the Royal Grand Sharm in the Red Sea resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh. However, the couple spent half of their stay in their hotel room hooked up to IV drips that were installed on lampshades in the room.
Mr Trundley and Miss Gavin had contracted a severe gastric illness which resulted in their suffering of acute stomach cramps, severe diarrhoea and vomiting after ordering a burger and fries from room service.
Following two days of illness with no improvements, the couple alerted the hotel and a doctor was sent to their room. The doctor prescribed fluids via IV drips to fight infection and rehydrate the pair, as well as antibiotics.
Miss Gavin, a neonatal nurse, said:
“It was a holiday to relax and it just made us poorly.
“We’re still having effects from it now and the doctors have said we can’t eat any dairy products for six weeks as it would trigger it off again.
“It was horrendous, absolutely horrendous.”
Mr Trundley, also a healthcare professional, added:
“We can’t put into words the ordeal we have been put through.
“It was a truly terrifying experience knowing that you are that unwell and have been treated like that by a five-star hotel.
“All we wanted to do was to get home and receive the treatment we needed but we felt completely helpless.
“The ordeal has also damaged our confidence when it comes to going away in the future.”
IV Drips Hooked to Lampshades
The couple fell ill after five days into their trip, having arrived in Egypt at the end of September. After seeing no signs of recovery, they asked for medical advice – it was then that IV drips were hooked up to lampshades in their room. The pair told of how they had to assist one another after being confined to their hotel room for the remainder of their stay, untying their drips in order to use the toilet.
Miss Gavin and Mr Trundley claim that other fellow holiday makers staying at the Royal Grand Sharm also fell ill with similar symptoms. The couple also claim that during their stay at the hotel, they witnessed birds and flies landing on or around uncovered food in the various hotel restaurants.
Mr Trundley and Miss Gavin have hired specialist travel lawyers to handle their case, a solicitor for the pair has said:
“The last thing Hayley and Marc expected when booking this luxury holiday was to spend the majority of their holiday stuck in their hotel room attached to IV drips.
“We have now begun our own investigations into the hygiene standards at the hotel and hope to be able to provide Hayley and Marc with the answers they deserve about what caused their condition.”
A spokesman at the Royal Grand Sharm hotel said:
“We are deeply sorry that our guests haven’t enjoyed their stay with us.
“We can’t deny that Mr Trundley and Miss Gavin got sick during their stay for unknown reasons.
“It might be because of changing food habit, travelling, heat or any unknown reason.
“But it is very obvious that they were exaggerating and most of what the guests stated in their complaint are not correct so we reject any financial compensation.”
Tour operators, Lowcostholidays is also investigating the couple’s claims. They released a statement saying:
“Lowcostholidays were contacted by a couple a week after their return from holiday and have recently received correspondence from their representatives.
“An investigation is currently underway. This highly regarded and very popular five-star hotel is co-operating fully.
“It would be inappropriate to comment at this early stage.”
Illness Abroad – Expert Advice
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If you have suffered illness while on a package holiday within the last 3 years due to poor hygiene standards at your hotel, our specialist Travel Lawyers will be able to offer free and friendly advice on making a claim. Contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6888 or email
Source: Mirror Online
