Tag: injured abroad

Holiday Injury Leaves Toddler Brain Damaged

Posted on May 8, 2017 by - Children's Accidents, Package Holiday Claims

Stanley Birch was on a luxury holiday with his parents at a five star resort in Bodrum, Turkey when the holiday injury took place in 2014.

Holiday injury

Stanley was lying on a sunbed when a heavy speaker fell off a nearby balcony, falling 15 meters before landing on the two year old’s head. His parent’s feared he may be dead, as he lay motionless in a pool of blood by the pool.

A doctor staying at the hotel, the Yasmin Resort in Turgutreis, picked him up and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Staff at the Bodrum Hospital operated on Stanley for over three hours.

Severe brain damage

The two year old was left with severe brain damage after surgeons found an epidural haematoma and were required to drain excess blood off his brain. Stanley also needed 20 staples to his head and ten stiches to his face following the incident.

Now six, Stanley’s development has been affected and his parent’s say he suffers with behavioural issues as a result of his injuries. He has to attend regular monthly check ups and his brain development is closely monitored.

Holiday injury compensation from TUI

Stanley and his family are potentially now looking at a potential payout of hundreds of thousands of pounds in personal injury compensation from holiday tour operator, TUI.

Stanley’s mother, Amy, said:

‘It was horrible.

‘Stanley had just woken up, and we were by the pool a few metres from him. Then I heard this bang and everyone was screaming.

‘I turned round and saw him lying still. He was off the sun lounger, which was completely smashed. I thought he was dead.

‘He wasn’t crying, I knew something was wrong because I knew he should be crying.

‘The ambulance came and he was in and out of consciousness when they got him to the hospital.

‘He was in there for three hours where they discovered he had suffered a tear to his main artery.’

His father, Mitchell, added:

‘He is happy and doing well, and we are lucky he is alive. But no-one knows for sure if he will develop 100 percent as he should have.

‘It is very stressful thinking how what happened on that day could still change his life now.’

Thomson accepted liability last year, but it is unlikely Stanley will receive any compensation until he is at least 18. This is because professionals won’t know exactly what effect his injuries will have until he comes to key moments in his life, such as school and exams.

TUI’s response

A spokeswoman for Thomson and First Choice said:

‘We can confirm that an incident took place at the Yasmin Resort in Bodrum on 12th June 2014 and as a result a child was taken to hospital.

‘Our resort team offered every possible support and assistance at the time of and in the aftermath of the incident, conducting a full investigation to understand what happened.

‘Our Welfare Team based in the UK were also in direct contact with the customers and continued to offer the necessary support.

‘As this case is now subject to legal proceedings it would be inappropriate to comment further.’

Holiday injury claims – expert advice

Holiday injury compensation may be available where your non-fault injury is the result of professional negligence at any stage of your package holiday. This also includes negligence on behalf of service providers working in conjunction with your tour operator.

If you believe that your tour operator could have taken reasonable steps towards preventing your injury, contact us today on 0800 888 6888 or email . Hampson Hughes Solicitors’ dedicated team of holiday injury solicitors could help you to secure maximum personal injury compensation.

Source: Metro

Over £6,000 Secured for Holiday Illness in Egypt

Posted on October 4, 2016 by - Package Holiday Claims, Success Stories

Image of shop and restaurants in Hurghada Bay Egypt

Our Travel Law team were recently instructed by three clients after their luxury holiday to Egypt was ruined by holiday illness.

Family holiday ruined

Katherine, Michael and Thomas booked a week long stay at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt with tour operators Thomas Cook.

However, not long into their holiday, all three began to suffer symptoms associated with food poisoning.

Our clients complained of suffering stomach cramps, diarrhoea, temperature and feelings of fatigue for a total of fourteen days. Katherine, Michael and Thomas all ate at the hotel restaurant as their holiday was booked as an all-inclusive package. They aver that their symptoms were caused by the poor food and hygiene standards at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel.

‘Dirty’

During their stay, our clients claim that food served in the restaurant was under-cooked, appeared to have been reheated and was left out for long periods of time. All three also witnessed flies and insects around the hotel’s eating areas and claim that cutlery and crockery provided was also dirty.

Overall, our clients claim that the food and the restaurant itself was of a very poor standard.

Our expert Travel Law team managed to secure a total of £6,100 compensation for our clients in this case.

Holiday Illness Claims – Expert Advice

If you believe that your holiday illness symptoms are linked to poor hygiene standards within your package deal hotel, you may be entitled to holiday illness compensation. There are certain steps that you could take in support of your claim:

•Note all important dates
•Report any hygiene issues to your holiday rep
•Document any suspected poor hygiene (e.g. photo, video)

For further information on holiday sickness compensation, please take a look at our Package Holiday Claims page.

To discover how much compensation you could be entitled to, call our expert team of travel law solicitors today for instant answers. Whatever your experience with holiday sickness, we may be able to help. We offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email .

Holidaymaker Falls Severely Ill in Cuba

Posted on September 29, 2016 by - Package Holiday Claims, Success Stories

Image of a white sandy beach and blue sea in Cayo Coco Cuba

We were recently instructed by a client who suffered food poisoning whilst on a luxury Cuban holiday.

Tropical Island Holiday

Stephen booked to stay at the all-inclusive 4* Sol Cayo Coco, situated on the tropical island of Cayo Coco, Cuba, for two weeks. The holiday was booked as a package deal through tour operators Thomas Cook.

However, after arriving at the hotel it was immediately obvious to our client that levels of hygiene within the hotel were not at an acceptable standard.

Poor hygiene standards

Stephen claims there was a strong smell of sewage that was noticeable throughout the hotel, faeces was found on the floor and the majority of toilets within the hotel were blocked and overflowing.

Stephen also claims that his room was not cleaned regularly and that towels/linens were not changed during his stay. Furthermore, appliances provided in his hotel room, such as the shower, were not in good working condition.

Hotel restaurant – ‘dirty’

As our client had booked an all-inclusive stay at the Sol Cayo Coco, he ate at the hotel restaurant each night during his holiday. According to Stephen, this was not a pleasant experience. Food served to guests was often left out uncovered for long periods of time, food was under-cooked and at times appeared to have been reheated.

Overall the standard of food available at the hotel was poor, as was the choice of dishes available. Furthermore, our client claims that the restaurant itself appeared ‘dirty’ and was infested with flies and insects. Stephen adds that the cutlery and crockery provided to guests also appeared unclean.

Symptoms

Unfortunately, just a few days into the holiday Stephen began to feel ill. He suffered various debilitating symptoms including vomiting and severe diarrhoea, as well as stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue and a high temperature.

Our client avers that his symptoms, which lasted a total of 20 days, were caused by the poor levels of hygiene at the Sol Cayo Coco.

Our expert Travel Law team managed to secure Stephen total of £2,400 in compensation.

Stephen was very pleased that we were able to secure the compensation he deserved and said following the result:

“Having been treated very badly by my tour operator, I turned to Hampson Hughes for help. The help and support I received from their Travel Law team was fantastic”

Holiday Illness Claims – Expert Advice

If you believe that your holiday illness symptoms are linked to poor hygiene standards within your package deal hotel, you may be entitled to holiday illness compensation. There are certain steps that you could take in support of your claim:

•Note all important dates
•Report any hygiene issues to your holiday rep
•Document any suspected poor hygiene (e.g. photo, video)

For further information on holiday sickness compensation, please take a look at our Package Holiday Claims page.

Discover how much compensation you could be entitled to and call our expert team of travel law solicitors today for instant answers. Whatever your experience with holiday sickness, we may be able to help. We offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email .

Holiday sickness leaves lasting effects on toddler

Posted on June 22, 2016 by - Package Holiday Claims

A toddler, who was making good progress toilet training, was so ill whilst on holiday he will no longer use the potty.

Severe stomach cramps

The two year old, who fell ill at a Spanish holiday resort, went through fifty nappies in just seven days after suffering with severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

His parents, Nicola Beaumont and Craig Mitchell, also fell ill whilst staying at the 3* Sur Menorca Hotel, in the Punta Prima area of Menorca.

Whilst the family from Rotherham have now recovered from their symptoms, which included stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting, they claim the holiday has had lasting effects on their son.

Nicola said:

“Our son was doing well with his potty training up until the holiday. However, he was so ill he got through two whole packets of nappies in less than a week. I think this experience has left him slightly traumatised as he won’t go near the potty now.”

To add insult to injury, Thomson – the company through which the holiday was booked, offered the family £80 in vouchers or a £60 cheque after they complained. The family have since sought legal advice and instructed Hampson Hughes Solicitors to seek compensation on their behalf after the holiday they’d saved for and looked forward to, was ruined.

‘The food was the worst part’

According to Nicola, hygiene standards within the hotel restaurant were poor. She told the team at Hampson Hughes Solicitors that the sausages available at breakfast were the hotdogs from the night before, only reheated, and raw chicken was served numerous times.

Photograph of the inside of a raw chicken nugget taken by Nicola at the Sur Menorca Hotel.

Photograph of the inside of a raw chicken nugget taken by Nicola at the Sur Menorca Hotel.

Mouldy bread

On one occasion, Nicola gave her toddler a hamburger from the snack bar, only to have to snatch it back when she noticed the inside of the bread bun was covered in mould. Nicola commented:

“The food was the worst part. For a 3*+ rated hotel I wasn’t expecting gourmet food every day. What I was expecting – quite wrongly it seemed – was properly cooked food, free from bugs and other items.”

After falling ill, both adults were unable to leave their room for a number of days and their son became very distressed. When they tried to speak to hotel staff about their illness, the couple were offered hand sanitizer and were told a hotel doctor could be called, at a cost of 60 Euros.

Other guest complaints

Nicola told Hampson Hughes Solicitors that other guests eating in the restaurant were experiencing similar issues, with several guests reporting glass inside jelly served to their children.

She also claims that one family was asked to leave the restaurant when they were caught taking photographs of the raw chicken they had been served.

Photograph taken by Nicola of the pool at the Sur Menorca Hotel.

Photograph taken by Nicola of the pool at the Sur Menorca Hotel.

Return to UK

Since returning from holiday Nicola has noticed complaints were not confined to her and the people she spoke with whilst abroad. A number of guests staying at the hotel at the same time as her and her family have expressed their disappointment via the holiday review site, Trip Advisor.

The reviews include multiple complaints of sickness and diarrhoea, an unclean restaurant and one guest even claimed that there had been faeces in the swimming pool which staff did nothing about.

There are also more reports of raw and substandard food with one guest even including photographs of a caterpillar that he found in his child’s dinner.

‘Overall, very disappointed’

From start to finish the family experienced problems. Upon first arriving at the hotel reception desk they say they were left disappointed when they had to struggle with three suitcases and a pram. They felt even more let down when the cleanliness of their room fell short of acceptable standards. Nicola told Hampson Hughes Solicitors:

“I could tell that the sheets hadn’t been changed once, as my son dropped a piece of chocolate on his bed at the start of the week and it was still there when we left.”

Things got worse when they arrived at the pool, which they said was ‘filthy’, with the water itself looking as though it was not cleaned regularly. Nicola continued:

“The pools weren’t clean; there were scum marks around the sides of the main pool and in the splash park for children. What’s more, leftover food and spilled drinks from the entertainment the night before was also left to rot around the pool area the following day. It was disgusting.”

Speaking about their overall experience at the Hotel Sur Menorca Nicola said:

“Craig and I are both very disappointed that our first holiday with our two year old son was ruined – no one wants to have to run to the loo constantly or be stuck in the rooms for days.

“Never in my life have I been on holiday and wanted to go home after three days. We were especially disappointed as we feel Thomson or the hotel didn’t care at all.”

Package holiday claims – specialist advice

Shiamli Mehta-Cronie, who heads up the Travel Law department at Hampson Hughes Solicitors said:

“This case of holiday sickness was clearly very distressing for the family but sadly not uncommon. I am acting for hundreds of holidaymakers who have also experienced illness abroad.

“In the majority of cases the problem is down to substandard food hygiene at hotels, an issue which can leave British tourists wishing they hadn’t bothered travelling at all.

“However, you can take legal action if you feel more could have been done to prevent your becoming ill. The Package Travel Regulations protect holidaymakers who book package holidays through reputable tour operators such as Thomson, First Choice and Thomas Cook.

“If this applies to you then we’d encourage you to get in touch. Being confined to your room with diarrhoea and vomiting as a result of poor hygiene is unacceptable and action can be taken.”

Start your holiday illness claim today

If you believe that your tour operator could have done more to prevent your symptoms of illness or injury, contact us today. Whether you have experienced illness or injury during your flight, whilst staying in your package deal hotel, or during an excursion arranged by a company working in conjunction with your tour operator, we can help. For further information, call 0800 888 6 888 or email

Children Struck With Vomiting Bug at Spanish Resort

Posted on June 10, 2016 by - Package Holiday Claims

In May this year, at least thirty children were reportedly hospitalised after falling ill at a hotel in Spain.

Marina Parc Hotel

It was reported that children staying at the Marina Parc hotel in Arenal D’en Castell, Menorca, experienced “severe sickness and diarrhoea” after playing in the hotel pool.

One guest at the hotel, Kevin Kiernan, was enjoying a two week stay with his partner and 10 month old daughter when his child became ill. Mr Kiernan claims the hotel provided the family with a dirty cot, staff failed to keep highchairs in the restaurant clean and that ‘scum’ was visible in the pool.

Projectile Vomiting

Mr Kiernan’s child was so violently sick – he claims at one point she was projectile vomiting – that she had to be taken to a Spanish hospital and was put on a drip.

Mr Kiernan has spoken out about his ordeal:

“One minute [my daughter] was smiling and laughing then she was violently sick it was very scary,

“Then when we cleaned her up but she was sick again. We were really worried.”

His daughter was kept in hospital for four days, but had to return for further tests. Whilst at the hospital, Mr Kiernan claims that he met other parents of sick children who were staying at the same hotel.

The family of three returned home to Wales five days earlier than planned. Once back home, their daughter was taken to Cardiff hospital and received further treatment.

First Choice

First Choice, with whom the holiday was booked, offered the family a travel voucher worth just £50 when he complained, according to Mr Kiernan.

A spokesman for First Choice has said:

“We are sorry to hear of the Kiernan family’s experience. As this is now subject to legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.

“We closely audit all resorts to which we operate to ensure that health, hygiene and comfort levels are maintained in line with industry standards.”

Holiday Sickness Claims – Expert Advice

If you believe that your holiday illness symptoms are linked to poor hygiene standards within your package deal hotel, you may be entitled to holiday illness compensation. There are certain steps that you could take in support of your claim:

•Note all important dates
•Report any hygiene issues to your holiday rep
•Document any suspected poor hygiene (e.g. photo, video)

For further information on holiday sickness compensation, and to discover how much compensation you could be entitled to, call our expert team of travel law solicitors today for instant answers. Whatever your experience with holiday sickness, we may be able to help. We offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Huffington Post

Hundreds Struck by Norovirus on UK to US Cruise

Posted on May 9, 2016 by - Package Holiday Claims

It has emerged that hundreds of passengers aboard a British cruise ship to North America have been taken ill with norovirus.

There are 919 passengers and over 500 crew members on board the Balmoral. According to health officials from the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), around 252 of those have been struck with the virus. Around eight members of the crew are also said to be suffering from norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug.

The ship, carrying mainly British passengers according to owners Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, set sail from Southampton in the UK on the 16th April, for a five week “Old England to New England” journey to the States.

When the ship docked in Baltimore on 30th April, CDC experts boarded in order to carry out tests on those that were showing signs of illness. The Balmoral docked in Portland on Sunday and is expected to arrive in Saint John, in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, today. Those that are infected with the virus have been instructed to stay inside their cabins.

A statement from Fred Olsen Cruises said:

“Fred.Olsen has been undertaking extensive sanitisation measures and cleaning of the ship, in accordance with its strict illness containment and prevention plan.

“Commonly, the illness abates within one or two days. Those guests who are affected are asked to remain in their rooms during this time – with complimentary room service and in-room entertainment.

“Fred.Olsen is co-operating fully with all the necessary maritime agencies and authorities,‎ as Balmoral continues on her cruise, and will continue to make e‎very effort possible to ensure the safety and well-being of all its guests and crew on board, which is of paramount importance.”

However, this is not the first time that the Balmoral has been hit by a viral outbreak. In May last year, passengers aboard the ship fell ill with the same norovirus and the trip was cut short. In 2010, more than 300 passengers were reported suffering diarrhoea and vomiting when the Balmoral docked in Los Angeles, whilst in 2009 during a cruise around Scotland, over 100 passengers were reported to have been struck with norovirus.

Symptoms of the norovirus include rapid onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and often last a day or two.

Holiday Illness – Expert Advice

If you have been affected by the norovirus outbreak whilst on board the Balmoral cruise ship and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6888 or email

Alternatively, if you have suffered from an illness due to poor hygiene standards whilst on a cruise holiday within the past 3 years, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our expert Travel Law team today for further information.

Please note, if at any stage you have accepted a settlement directly from the cruise provider, or asked to sign a disclaimer, you may be undercompensated and you will be unable to make a claim for compensation.

Sources: BBC News; Sky News

Holiday sickness hotspots

Posted on May 4, 2016 by - Package Holiday Claims

Holiday sickness is often viewed as an expected part of the jet set experience. The onset of holiday illness has become so widely accepted that UK holiday makers will frequently make light of the situation, referring to Delhi Belly, Montezuma’s Revenge, or the Turkey Trots. But falling ill through the consumption of food and drink provided by your package deal hotel is no joke, and it should not happen. If you believe that your symptoms of holiday illness are linked to poor hygiene in your package deal resort, you could be entitled to holiday illness compensation.

Claims by country

The map shows the location of all holiday sickness claims accepted by Hampson Hughes Solicitors, shown as a percentage of the overall number of accepted claims.

[amcharts id=”travel-claims”]

Types of holiday sickness

In most cases, contracting a bacterial or viral infection will follow contact with food that has not been cooked thoroughly or food that has not been stored hygienically (i.e. food that has been left out in the open). There are many common types of illness associated with foreign travel, commonly referred to as ‘gastroenteritis’, a term which covers stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and vomiting. However, understanding your illness may help us to make an accurate claim for holiday sickness compensation.

Types of holiday sickness include:

Salmonella

Salmonella is a type of bacteria found in uncooked meats

  • Onset: 1-3 days
  • Typical Duration: 7 days
  • Symptoms: abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever

Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium is a parasite found in untreated water

  • Onset: 2 – 10 days
  • Typical duration: 3-4 weeks
  • Symptoms: abdominal cramps, watery diarrhoea, vomiting, fever

Campylobacter

Campylobacter is a type of bacteria found in food, water, and animals

  • Onset: 2- 5 days
  • Typical duration: 10 days
  • Symptoms: abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea

Shigella

Shigella is a type of bacteria found in food, water, and faeces

  • Onset: 1-4 days
  • Typical duration: 5-7 days
  • Symptoms: abdominal cramps, vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, rectal spasms

Giardia lamblia

Giardia lamblia is a parasite found in soil or food contaminated with animal faeces

  • Onset: 1-2 weeks
  • Typical duration: 2-3 weeks
  • Symptoms: abdominal cramps, bloating, diarrhoea, fatigue

E Coli

E Coli is a type of bacteria found in raw foods and drinks contaminated with animal faeces

  • Onset: 1-4 days
  • Typical duration: 5-10 days
  • Symptoms: watery diarrhoea that becomes bloody, fever, chills, headaches

Holiday sickness claims – expert advice

If you believe that your holiday illness symptoms are linked to poor hygiene standards within your package deal hotel, you may be entitled to holiday illness compensation. There are certain steps that you could take in support of your claim:

  • Note all important dates
  • Report any hygiene issues to your holiday rep
  • Document any suspected poor hygiene (e.g. photo, video)

For further information on holiday sickness compensation, and to discover how much compensation you could be entitled to, call our expert team of travel law solicitors today for instant answers. Whatever your experience with holiday sickness, we may be able to help. We offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email

Woman Contracts Legionnaires’ Disease after Sardinia Holiday

Posted on March 31, 2016 by - Medical Negligence

A British woman is taking legal action against a travel company after she was diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease following illness whilst on holiday in Sardinia.

58 year old Patricia Pybus, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, spent nine weeks in intensive care following her return to the UK after staying at the four-star Hotel Pulicinu last August.

Sunstroke symptoms

Less than a week into the luxury break with her husband, Mrs Pybus contracted what she thought was sunstroke. However, her condition soon deteriorated and she began to experience diarrhoea, headaches, nausea and stomach cramps. Mrs Pybus also developed chest pains and a persistent cough as the holiday continued, as well as feeling lethargic and feverish.

The holidaymaker, who booked the trip through Manchester-based Travel Counsellors, claims that their room at the hotel smelled stale and looked as though it had not been inhabited for weeks.

Mrs Pybus also claims that the air conditioning unit in her hotel room was constantly leaking water and covered in rust, and that the showers were old.

Nine weeks in ICU

Once the couple returned to the UK, Mrs Pybus went to Friarige Hospital in Northallerton and was admitted to an intensive care unit. It was there that doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila, or Legionnaires’ disease.

Mrs Pybus spent nine weeks in total in the intensive care unit after being heavily sedated for the first fortnight and undergoing a tracheotomy.

Now back at home, Mrs Pybus claims she has difficulty simply walking upstairs as she suffers from shortness of breath, leaving her unable to work and having to depend on her husband for day to day tasks.

Mrs Pybus said:

“At first we just thought it was a simple case of sunstroke but it became clear very quickly that things were much worse than that.

“I have lost months of my life from being in intensive care, not to mention the distress and anxiety my family were put through, not knowing if I could ever come round from it.

“We have been to hell and back as a result of my illness and I want to do everything possible to prevent anyone else going through the same experience which we have been through.”

A spokesperson for Travel Counsellors released the following statement:

“This is an ongoing claim and so it is inappropriate to comment further at this time, but the health and welfare of our customers is of paramount importance to us and we work closely with our hotel suppliers to achieve the highest safety standards.”

Legionnaires’ disease

According to the NHS Choices website, ‘Legionnaires’ disease is a serious lung infection caused by Legionella bacteria’. Symptoms echo that of the flu, with sufferers experiencing muscle pain, headaches, tiredness, chills, fever and even changes to an individual’s mental state.

Legionella bacteria is usually caught by breathing in small droplets of contaminated water in rivers, lakes, ponds and even artificial water supply systems including air conditioning units. Once the lungs are infected with this bacteria, patients may suffer from symptoms of pneumonia, including shortness of breath and chest pains, as well as a persistent cough.

The NHS website goes on to say that symptoms usually take around six to seven days to symptoms to show, however this can vary by anything from two to nineteen days.

Holiday Illness Claims – Expert Advice

Shiamli Mehta-Cronie, Travel Law expert here at Hampson Hughes Solicitors, said:

“Reports of Mrs Pybus’s illness are alarming and cause for concern. It is vital that tour operators be held accountable for the failings basic hygiene standards of their hotel providers. If you have fallen victim to poor hygiene standards while on a package holiday, contact us today to find out whether you are eligible to claim.”

For more information as to whether or not you are able to claim compensation following illness whilst on an all-inclusive package holiday, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today for free and friendly, no obligation advice on 0800 888 6888 or email

Source: Mail Online; NHS Choices

Holiday Illness: Couple Demand Answers after Husband Contracts Sepsis

Posted on March 4, 2016 by - Package Holiday Claims

A man has been left unable to work again after contracting sepsis at a Mexican hotel on what was supposed to be a ‘dream holiday’.

Severe gastric illness

Clive Roberts, 62, ended up in intensive care after he and his wife Caroline returned from their holiday at the luxury Barceló Maya Tropical resort. On their first day back in the UK, Mr Roberts developed a severe gastric illness, suffering with symptoms such as vomiting, a fever and diarrhoea, whilst at his job as a scaffolder.

After a visit to his GP, Mr Roberts was advised to go straight to A&E as his symptoms were so severe. Upon his arrival at Worthing Hospital’s A&E, he was admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) where he was diagnosed with Sepsis and Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is a severe and often life-threatening complication that occurs in about 10% of those infected with E.coli and can often lead to kidney failure.

The trip to Mexico was supposed to be a celebration of Mrs Roberts’ 60th birthday; however the couple now demand answers, after their luxury holiday ended in a stay in ICU. They have sought legal advice and are urging anyone suffering with similar symptoms after staying at the Barceló Maya Tropical resort.

Health & hygiene concerns

According to Mr Roberts, the couple have a number of concerns regarding the health and hygiene standards at the resort. They claim they often saw birds pecking at uncovered food in the hotel restaurants, as well as food that was supposed to be kept chilled being served at room temperature.

Mr Roberts said:

‘This was supposed to be an enjoyable holiday to celebrate Caroline’s 60th birthday in style.

‘The hotel really wasn’t up to the standards we had expected and we were left disappointed.

‘To fall seriously ill immediately after coming back to the UK and end up spending three weeks in hospital has meant the memories of Caroline’s 60th birthday have been ruined forever.

‘We want to know what caused me to fall so ill and that the hygiene concerns will be looked into, so that other people will not go through the ordeal we have endured.’

A spokesman for Barceloa has provided the following statement:

‘Mr and Mrs Roberts stayed at the Barcelo Maya Hotel in Mexico from March 3 to 17, 2015.

‘We read in the MailOnline that he was diagnosed with sepsis after he returned home to England.

‘We hope that he has made a full recovery. Mr and Mrs Roberts have not been in touch with the hotel since their stay in March 2015.

‘The hotel adheres to all health and safety inspections. We take the wellbeing of our guests extremely seriously and will conduct every necessary investigation.’

Holiday illness claims – expert advice

Shiamli Mehta-Cronie, Head of Travel Law here at Hampson Hughes Solicitors said:

‘Tour operators need to be held accountable for the failures of their hotels and resorts. Deficiencies in hygiene standards breed infection and cause outbreaks of illness causing symptoms of sickness, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and dehydration.

‘If you believe that you have contracted food poisoning whilst on a package holiday, contact our dedicated Travel Team today for your FREE no-obligation consultation. Whatever your circumstances, we may be able to help you to secure maximum personal injury compensation. For further information, please see our food poisoning abroad claims page.’

For more information as to whether or not you are able to claim compensation following illness whilst on an all-inclusive package holiday, contact Hampson Hughes today for free and friendly, no obligation advice on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: About-HUS; Mail Online

Teenager Receives 6 Figure Compensation Pay-out for Holiday Illness

Posted on February 19, 2016 by - Package Holiday Claims

Bradie Perkins was thirteen when he caught a potentially fatal illness whilst holidaying in Turkey with his family.

One of Twenty Seven

Bradie was one of twenty seven individuals who fell ill in October 2010 whilst staying at the Holiday Village in the Sarigerme area of Dalaman.

Due to what his family claim was poor food hygiene at the resort, the teenager had to be taken to hospital on two occasions after suffering from dehydration, severe diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

Bradie was diagnosed with a parasitic infection, giardiasis, as well as E.coli and a kidney condition, haemolytic uraemic syndrome. The latter has left the teenager with kidneys that only work at two thirds of their regular function.

Career Hopes Dashed

Before the trip to Turkey, Bradie had aspired to join the navy, however due to the kidney condition he contracted Bradie is unable to pursue his dream career. Now eighteen and studying for his A-levels, Bradie has told of how he was ‘devastated’ when he learnt that he cannot fulfil his dream of a naval career.

He went on to say:

“I’ll have to live with the effects of my illness forever and will always be watching what I eat or worrying about where to go on holiday.”

Undercooked & Uncovered Food

The Perkins family have claimed that they witnessed left over food being reused and simply ‘topped up’ the following day in the hotel restaurant, along with food sometimes being undercooked. They have also claimed that food at the resort was often left uncovered and so unprotected from the flies, insects and cats which frequented the restaurant.

Bradie said:

“I knew something was wrong when I became so tired and for the last few days of my holiday I felt like I spent more time in the hotel room than I did with my family actually enjoying myself.”

It has been reported that TUI UK Ltd, trading as First Choice, settled a number of weeks before a trial was due to begin. The full amount of the pay-out Bradie received was not disclosed.

Holiday Illness Claims – Expert Advice

Shiamli Mehta-Cronie, Travel Law expert here at Hampson Hughes Solicitors, said:

“Cases like these while alarming are unfortunately not uncommon. Poor practices of food and hygiene standards in resorts abroad are on the rise. If you believe that you have contracted food poisoning during a holiday, contact our dedicated Travel Team today for your FREE no-obligation consultation. Whatever your circumstances, we may be able to help you to secure maximum personal injury compensation. For further information, please see our food poisoning abroad claims page.”

For more information as to whether or not you are able to claim compensation following illness whilst on an all-inclusive package holiday, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today for free and friendly, no obligation advice on 0800 888 6888 or email [email protected]

Source: Sky.com