Holiday Nightmare After Toddler Falls Ill At French Ski Resort
Le Viking Hotel, Morzine
15/07/2008
A mother from Northfields, near Calne, Wiltshire is taking legal action after a festive break with her young son turned into a nightmare stay at a French ski resort.
Little Harry Clements, aged 2, was admitted to hospital after suffering severe gastric illness during a two week stay at the 3* Le Viking Hotel in Morzine, France, booked through tour operator Crystal Holidays.
Mum, Rachel Clements, (45) had previously enjoyed a number of stays at this particular ski resort in the French Alps and their return, in December 2007, was a much anticipated Christmas and New Year getaway.
However, on arriving at the resort Ms Clements was immediately disappointed. "The rooms were dirty and were never cleaned. Even things like clean towels weren't provided and the children's food at the restaurant was absolutely abysmal," she said.
Ms Clements' holiday went from bad to worse when in the early hours of New Year's Day her son fell ill with severe gastric symptoms including diarrhoea, stomach cramps and a high temperature.
She continued: "It was terrible watching my son suffering so much. I just wanted to get help for him but when I asked at the hotel they said there was no way of getting him down to the main town and there was nothing that could be done. I had previously been informed that it would be no problem for us to get help from the town if it was needed so this really worried me. I felt helpless."
Harry’s symptoms became so bad that he was finally transferred to hospital where he spent the next four days recovering.
Ms Clements added: "I really didn't think he would be fit enough to fly home, but he was finally discharged just a couple of hours before the flight was due to depart and we made it with minutes to spare. When we got back home, Harry was again seen at the local hospital and it took several weeks before his symptoms subsided."
Lindsay Evans, from the travel law team at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, who are representing Ms Clements and her son said: "It is very upsetting for holidaymakers to suffer illness, particularly when staying in an isolated location abroad.
"The standards at the hotel that have been described to us by Ms Clements indicate that the likely cause of Harry's illness was a failure by the hotel to maintain sufficient levels of health and hygiene. We are now investigating this further and we are keen to speak to any other holidaymakers who stayed at Le Viking Hotel and suffered similar experiences to Ms Clements."