Sports Massage Therapist Instructs Lawyers To Investigate After Suffering Gastric Illness At London Borough Market Restaurant

A Sports Massage Therapist was required to seek hospital treatment due to gastric illness after eating oysters at a London bar restaurant is among a group who have instructed lawyers to investigate.

Omar Curatolo, 39, ate the meal at Richard Haward’s Oysters, a restaurant in Borough Market, London, together with his fiancé and another friend. They all reported falling ill after eating three oysters each.

The following day, Omar began to suffer from nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and stomach pains. He called an ambulance on 2 February and was admitted to Whittingham Hospital, where he was placed on two IV drips.  Blood tests revealed he was suffering from a gastrointestinal infection.

Omar asks public health lawyers to investigate and help secure answers

Omar, a self-employed Sports Massage Therapist from Haringey, instructed specialist lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his illness and if it was connected with the meal he had eaten.

Expert Opinion

“Omar’s experience is an example of the terrible impact gastric illness can have on people’s physical and mental health.

“The effect of such illness can be long-lasting and should never be downplayed. Even now, Omar hasn’t fully recovered and had to take time off from work as a result.

“We’re determined to help Omar and our other clients who fell ill find the answers they deserve.

“Omar is aware of several people who fell ill at the same time and as part of our investigations, we would be interested in speaking to them about their experiences.

“If during the course of our investigations any issues are found, it’s vital these are acted on so others don’t go through what Omar and his friends have.” Nadhia Akthar

Omar admitted to hospital

Omar was in London with his fiancé Daniela and two friends, Salvatore and Erika, when they decided to visit Borough Market. While there, the group visited Richard Haward’s Oysters, with three of the party consuming three oysters each for lunch on 31 January.

The following day, Omar, began to suffer from symptoms of gastric illness. As the symptoms became worse, an ambulance was called and Omar was taken to hospital. Omar’s friend Salvatore also sought medical assistance and an ambulance was called due to similar symptoms.

By the time the worst of the symptoms had subsided a few days later, he had lost over 2kg in weight. Omar was also forced to take time off work and reschedule regular clients. Omar and his friend Salvatore, continued to suffer with symptoms for several weeks since the onset of their illness.

Omar calls for answers following his experience

Omar said: “We’d really been looking forward to this London trip with friends and dining in the Borough Market was all part of the experience. My fiancé and I started to feel ill on the following evening. My fiancés illness was investigated and she was found to be suffering with a gastrointestinal infection, in addition to a urinary tract infection.

“I’ve never experienced pain like it and by the next day, I knew it was serious. It was so bad, I had no choice but to call for an ambulance. It was two days before there was any improvement and by the end of it, I had lost 2kg in weight.

“Even now, things still haven’t returned to normal and you start to wonder if you’ll ever to be able to eat food in the same way again.

“I lost two days off work, which is a real worry when you’re self-employed. You don’t want to let customers down and risk losing them, but I had to apologise and re-arrange their appointments.

“It was such a traumatic experience for all of us and I think we need to understand what happened so no one else has to endure such an experience. I’m pretty fit and you wonder what could happen to someone less fit and more vulnerable. We need answers and to draw a line under what has been a terrible experience for all of us.”

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