Tag: TUI Ltd

Holiday Injury Leaves Toddler Brain Damaged

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

Woman Awarded Over £4,000 Holiday Illness Compensation

A woman from Oldham has received over £4,000 in holiday illness compensation after she contracted Salmonella while in Cuba.

Holiday illness – Salmonella

Deborah Beswick and her husband travelled to the 4* Tryp Cayo Coco resort in Cuba for a two week holiday in September 2015. However after just a week at the resort, Mrs Beswick was struck with severe holiday illness. Her symptoms included vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

Upon the couple’s return to the UK, Mrs Beswick’s holiday illness symptoms worsened. She attended an out-of-hours GP at Manchester Royal Hospital, as well as visiting her own GP, where tests revealed that she had contracted Salmonella food poisoning. Doctor’s warned Mrs Beswick that her symptoms are not due to subside until July 2017, meaning that her ‘holiday illness’ will have lasted a total of 22 months.

‘Alarming’ food and hygiene standards

Mrs Beswick avers that her holiday illness symptoms were a direct result of the ‘alarming’ food and hygiene standards and practises she witnessed at the Tryp Cayo Coco.

According to Mrs Beswick, during her stay at the 4* resort she witnessed:

• Food was left uncovered and exposed to flies
• Birds flying around the buffet restaurant
• Food that appeared to have been reheated
• Food that was reused for several meals throughout the day
• Food that was left for prolonged periods of time at room temperature

Payout

After seeking legal advice, Mrs Beswick was awarded a total of £4,700 in holiday illness compensation from tour operator Thomas Cook.

Holiday illness compensation claims – expert advice

If you believe that your holiday sickness 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)

Whatever your experience with holiday illness, we may be able to help. Call our expert team of travel law solicitors today for a FREE no-obligation consultation. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email .

For further information on holiday illness compensation, please see our ‘Package Holiday Claims’ page.

Source: Oldham Evening Chronicle

£2,200 Compensation Awarded for Holiday Illness

Our team of Travel Law solicitors recently secured compensation for a client whose stay at the Rui Palace in Gran Canaria was ruined by holiday illness.

Holiday illness

Unfortunately, just three days into their all-inclusive package holiday, the claimant began to feel unwell. They suffered symptoms including diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting, along with nausea and fatigue. In total, our client’s symptoms lasted three weeks.

Hotel restaurant

According to the claimant, food and hygiene standards at the hotel were very poor.

Our client reports that meat and fish served in the hotel restaurant was served under-cooked and at the incorrect temperature, as well as appearing reheated. The buffet style food available was left out, often uncovered, for long periods of time and without suitable refrigeration. Drinks appeared watered down, and the claimant believes ice in drinks was made using local tap water.

Our client also asserts that the overall choice and quality of the food was of a very poor standard and that the bar and eating areas were often infested with flies and insects. They added that during their stay at the Rui Palace they did not witness kitchen or restaurant staff wearing gloves when handling food.

The claimant avers that their illness was caused by the poor levels of food and hygiene within the hotel, particularly the hotel restaurant.

Outcome

Our expert Travel Law team managed to secure a total of £2,200 in compensation for our client on this occasion.

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)

Whatever your experience with holiday illness, we may be able to help. Call our expert team of travel law solicitors today for a FREE no-obligation consultation. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email .

For further information on holiday illness compensation, please see our Package Holiday Claims page.

£1,900 Compensation Secured for Holiday Illness

The travel law team here at Hampson Hughes Solicitors were recently instructed by a client whose dream getaway to Mexico was plagued by holiday illness.

Our client booked a week long stay at the 3* Riu Yucatan hotel in the Playa del Carmen resort of Mexico in January 2016. The holiday was booked as an all-inclusive package deal with tour operators TUI.

Poor food & hygiene standards

Upon the Claimant’s immediate arrival at the hotel there was strong smell of sewage, both in the hotel itself and the surrounding areas.

They also report that throughout their stay at the Riu Yucatan hotel, they noticed a number of issues relating to poor food and hygiene practices, particularly with regards to the buffet style food service available. Our client reports:

• Food was left uncovered for extended periods of time
• Food appeared reheated and was served at incorrect temperatures
• Staff members handling food did not appear to wear gloves when doing so

According to the claimant most dishes served in the restaurant were covered in a thick sauce and so it was difficult to know if they contained meat, and, if so, if the meat was cooked correctly. At one evening meal our client was about to tuck into a dish when they realised that it contained raw meat.

Holiday illness

On the final day of their holiday, our client began to suffer from symptoms related to food poisoning. Their symptoms included abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and fatigue, as well as diarrhoea containing blood.

The claimant self medicated while abroad with Imodium and pain killers purchased from a local pharmacy. Upon their return to the UK, our client reports having to visit his GP on more than one occasion due to their holiday illness. They also claim that a year on from their trip to Mexico, their health has not returned to how it was prior to the holiday.

Successful outcome

Liability was admitted by TUI and an out of court settlement was agreed on.

Our expert Travel Law solicitors managed to secure a total of £1,900 in holiday illness compensation for the Claimant on this occasion.

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.

Call our expert team of travel law solicitors today for FREE legal advice. Whatever your experience with holiday sickness, we may be able to help. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email .

TUI Accused of Failings after Sousse Terrorist Attack

Image of empty beach in Sousse after Sousse terror attack

Lawyers for the families of Britons who lost their lives during the 2015 Sousse terrorist attack are accusing travel company TUI of failing their customers by ‘practically hiding’ Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) terror warnings from tourists.

Sousse Terror Attack

On 26 June 2015, hundreds of tourists were sunbathing on a private beach outside the Imperial Marhaba hotel in Sousse, Tunisia, when terrorist Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The 23-year-old electrical engineering student killed a total of 38 tourists, 30 of whom were British, in a spree that lasted around 40 minutes. Tunisian authorities shot Rezgui dead as he ran from the hotel.

The attack in Sousse came only three months after Islamist militants attacked the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, the Tunisian capital, killing 21 people.

TUI Accused of Hiding Terror Warnings

All 30 of the Britons who lost their lives in the Sousse terrorist attack booked their holiday through travel company TUI, which also owns Thomson holidays.

According to papers submitted in advance of the inquests resuming this week, lawyers for 20 of the families are to accuse TUI of “practically hiding and keeping out of the limelight” FCO warnings about terrorism in Tunisia.

Furthermore, the travel firm is also said to have sold travel insurance that excluded cancellation cover caused by terrorism risks to customers.

According to submissions by the families, TUI is said to have actively discouraged cancellation by charging those who decided to cancel due to learning of terrorist activities/risks, up to the full cost of their holiday.

Response from TUI

According to the documents, TUI is to argue that the measures it put in place at the time for forwarding travel advice were appropriate and that the Sousse attack changed the climate, to which they responded accordingly.

A TUI spokeswoman has said:

“TUI UK is taking a full and active role in the inquests into the deaths of the 30 British nationals killed during the terrorist attack in Sousse, Tunisia in June 2015.

“Like others, we want to understand the specific circumstances that led to this atrocity. We are cooperating with the coroner and will continue to do so, in order to help ensure that the tragic deaths of those killed can be thoroughly investigated, the relevant facts determined and any lessons learned. With the inquests about to be heard, we consider that it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”

Source: Guardian

Compensation Secured for Food Poisoning Abroad

Image of empty beach in Dominican Republic

Our team of expert Travel Law solicitors were recently instructed by a client after their luxury holiday to the Dominican Republic was ruined by holiday illness.

Jula Shinks booked a two week stay at the 5* ClubHotel Riu Merengue, in the Dominican Republic in January 2016. The holiday was booked as an all-inclusive package deal through tour operator TUI UK.

Holiday illness symptoms

Unfortunately, just a few days into her luxury holiday Ms Jinks began to feel unwell. Our client suffered with various symptoms relating to food poisoning, including:

• Severe Diarrhoea
• Abdominal cramps
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Raised Temperature

Poor food hygiene levels

As the holiday was all-inclusive, all meals and drinks throughout Ms Jinks’ holiday at the ClubHotel Riu Merengue were paid upon booking and provided by the hotel.

However, according to our Ms Jinks, the hygiene at the hotel was very poor, particularly in relation to the food. Our client reports:

• A buffet style food service that was often luke-warm in temperature
• Members of the catering team were not seen to be monitoring the temperature of the food
• Staff members were not wearing gloves when serving the food
• Food was left uncovered
• A high volume of flies and insects could be seen around the eating area
• The food was of poor quality
• The meat and fish products were served partially cooked
• The food appeared to be reheated
• Hot food was often added to trays of cooler food of the same type
• The crockery provided was dirty
• Drinks tasted as though they had been watered down
• It was suspected that ice served in drinks was made with local tap water

With the above factors in mind, Ms Jinks avers that her symptoms were directly caused by the poor levels of food hygiene standards at the 5* ClubHotel Riu Merengue.

Our team of dedicated solicitors secured a total of £2,150 in holiday illness compensation.

Ms Jinks commented following the outcome:

“Very efficient and approachable company. I was kept updated all throughout my claim.”

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

“These cases signify another triumph in the battle against the cost cutting exercises of tour operators. It is simply not acceptable to allow them to continue to take money from hard working holidaymakers and provide them with sub-standard hygiene practices in return.

“If you have been struck down by illness while on a package holiday, call us today for your free no obligation consultation.”

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 illness compensation, please see 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 .

£2,200 Awarded for Holiday Illness in Gran Canaria

Image of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Our team of Holiday Illness specialists recently secured compensation for a client who suffered severe gastric illness in Gran Canaria, Spain, due to the poor food hygiene standards at their hotel.

Our client booked a nine day stay at the 4* Hotel Riu Palace in the Maspalomas resort of Gran Canaria. The holiday was booked as an all-inclusive package holiday with tour operator Thomas Cook.

Holiday illness symptoms

As the holiday was an all-inclusive package deal, all food and drink throughout our client’s stay was provided by, and consumed within, the hotel. However, just a few days into their holiday, the Claimant began to feel unwell. They experienced various symptoms, including:

• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal cramps
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Raised Temperature

Hotel restaurant – poor food hygiene

Our client’s symptoms developed after they had eaten the food provided by the hotel. As a result, the Claimant avers that their symptoms were brought on by the poor food hygiene standards within the restaurant of the Hotel Riu Palace.

On the occasions that our client ate at the restaurant, they witnessed numerous breaches of hygiene and safety. According to the claimant:

• A buffet style food service that was often tepid in temperature and was left uncovered
• High volume of wild birds, insects and wasps around the eating areas
• The food was of poor quality
• The meat and fish products were served partially cooked and the food appeared to be reheated
• At no point did our client witness members of the catering team monitoring the food temperature
• Hot food was added to trays of cooler food of the same type
• Crockery was dirty and staff members were not wearing gloves when serving/handling the food
• Drinks were watered down and it was suspected that ice was made out of local tap water

Loss of enjoyment

As a direct result of their symptoms, our client was unable to thoroughly enjoy their stay at the Riu Palace. Day to day activities such as sight seeing and swimming were restricted, as due to the nature of our client’s symptoms, they required to be in close proximity to a toilet at all times. Furthermore, our client was unable to properly take advantage of, and enjoy, the all-experience package that they had paid for.

Unfortunately, there was no doctor on hand at the hotel and as a result, our client was required to self-medicate.

The claimant’s symptoms lasted a total of fourteen days, and due to the severity of their illness, our client was required to delay his return to the UK by an extra two days.

Almost a year after the holiday, the claimant still suffers with occasion stomach cramps.

Our Travel Law Solicitors managed to secure a total of £2,200 in holiday illness compensation on this occasion.

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 see 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 .

£4,000 in Compensation Awarded to Mother & Son

Image of a beach in Bulgaria

Our dedicated travel law solicitors were recently instructed by a mother, on behalf of herself and her young son, after they were both struck with holiday illness during their Bulgarian getaway.

Two week family holiday ruined

Our client booked an all-inclusive package holiday to Bulgaria, through tour operators Thomas Cook, at the end of June 2015.

However their two week family holiday to the 3* Laguna Park Hotel did not go as planned, due to the mother of the group – and her son – contracting a severe bout of gastric illness. Both report suffering with severe diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. They also complained of a raised temperature and fatigue.

As a result of their symptoms, which lasted a fortnight, our clients were unable to enjoy their time in Bulgaria. Day to day activities such as sight seeing, excursions and swimming were also restricted throughout the family’s stay at the Laguna Park Hotel.

Poor hygiene standards in hotel

Due to the board type of our client’s holiday (all-inclusive) all food and drink throughout their stay was provided by and consumed within the hotel. Unfortunately according to our client, the standards of food hygiene within the hotel restaurant were not to an acceptable standard. Our client reports:

Buffet Style food service which was often tepid in temperature and left uncovered for extended periods of time.
• Food appeared to be reheated and partially cooked
• Certain food were being recycled for use in other meals
• Hot food was being added to trays containing cooler food of the same type
• Drinks served tasted as if they were watered down
• Certain foods were being recycled for use in other meals
• Ice in drinks which was believed to be made from local tap water

Separately, the standards of general cleanliness throughout the hotel and its grounds were also poor. According to the Claimant:

There was a smell of sewage around the hotel grounds
• It appeared as though raw sewage was being sprayed on hotel greenery
• The pool water and pool edges were dirty
• Our client did not witness the pool being tested for chlorine or Ph levels

The Claimant avers that both her and her son’s symptoms were directly caused by eating at the hotel restaurant, she adds that it was often ‘dirty’ and that a high volume of flies, birds and insects could be seen around the eating areas.

Our Travel Law solicitors managed to secure a total of £2,00 EACH for our clients on this occasion.

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 see 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 .

£2,300 Secured for Holiday Illness in Egypt

Image of an Egyptian beach at sunset

Our expert team of travel law solicitors recently secured a total of £2,300 in holiday illness compensation for a client who suffered a severe gastric illness while on holiday in Egypt.

Anthony Harding booked a two week stay at the 5* Sunrise Select Royal Makadi in the Makadi Bay resort of Egypt.

The excursion was booked as an all-inclusive package holiday through tour operators Thomas Cook, meaning that all food and drink was provided by and consumed within the hotel.

Poor food hygiene standards

Unfortunately Mr Harding began to feel unwell just a few days into his holiday. He suffered with vomiting, abdominal cramps, nausea and fatigue – symptoms which are client avers were caused directly by the poor food hygiene standards at the hotel.

When eating at the hotel restaurant, Mr Harding noted that the food hygiene standards were not to an acceptable standard. Our client reports:

• A buffet Style food service which was often tepid in temperature and left uncovered for extended periods of time
• A lot of flies around the eating area
• Food appeared to be reheated
• Certain foods were being recycled for use in other meals
• Members of the catering staff were not wearing gloves when handling the food
• Hot food was being added to trays containing cooler food of the same type
• Drinks served tasted as if they were watered down
• Ice was served in drinks, which was believed to be made from local tap water

Furthermore, Mr Harding reports that hotel staff advised pipes had not been cleaned and this was making people ill.

Symptoms

Our client’s symptoms were so severe that he sought medical attention from the hotel doctor, who provided him with medication and administered Mr Harding with fluids in the form of an IV drip.

Mr Harding’s symptoms lasted around two weeks and as a result, he was unable to enjoy his time in Egypt. Every day holiday activities such as swimming and sight seeing were restricted as our client needed to be near a toilet at all times.

We managed to secure a total of £2,300 in compensation for Mr Harding on this occasion.

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 see 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 .

Luxury Christmas Holiday Ruined by Illness

Image of an empty caribbean beach on Saona island, Dominican Republic

We recently took instruction from a client whose luxury Christmas holiday to the Dominican Republic was ruined when they contracted holiday illness.

Christmas getaway ruined

Our client booked to stay at the Grand Bahia Principe El Portillo in the Dominican Republic over the Christmas period in 2013. Unfortunately just a few days into their stay at the 3* hotel, our client started to suffer with various symptoms related to food poisoning.

The claimant reports suffering with diarrhoea; abdominal cramps; vomiting; nausea and fatigue.

Poor food hygiene standards

As the holiday was booked as an all-inclusive package deal, all of the food and drink consumed by our client was provided by the hotel.

The claimant avers that their illness was was directly caused by the food provided by the Grand Bahia Principe El Portillo. According to our client, food hygiene standards at the on site restaurant and surrounding eating areas was very poor. Our client reports:

• Buffet Style food service which was often tepid in temperature and left uncovered for extended periods of time.
• A large quanitity of flies around the eating area
• Food appeared to be reheated and partially cooked
• Certain foods were being recycled for reuse in other meals
• Members of the catering staff were not wearing gloves when handling the food products
• Hot food was often added to trays containing cooler food of the same type.
• Drinks served tasted as if they were watered down
• Ice in drinks which was believed to be made from local tap water

Furthermore, our client complained of several hygiene issues not related to the restaurant, including:

• A strong smell of sewage around the hotel grounds
• The rooms were not properly or regularly cleaned
• The bed sheets were dirty and not changed regularly

On this occasion, we managed to secure a total of £2,500 in compensation for our client.

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 see 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 .