20.08.2014

Expert Travel Lawyers Secure Settlement from Thomas Cook

A woman left with on-going health problems after contracting Salmonella during her holiday at a Bulgarian hotel has spoken of her relief as expert travel lawyers secured her a four-figure settlement from her tour operator.

Catherine Lowe, from Worsborough Bridge, in Barnsley, had to go to a local medical centre in Bulgaria and was hooked up to a drip because her symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea had left her so severely dehydrated.

She had travelled to the Laguna Park resort for a 10-day stay from June to July 2012 with her best friend for a girls’ holiday, but she started to suffer with severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain and vomiting during her stay. When she returned home she went to see her GP and was diagnosed with Salmonella food poisoning and had to take a week off work as a healthcare assistant.

The 26-year-old instructed expert international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate what caused her illness. She told lawyers of her concerns about the food hygiene at the hotel such as occasions where:

• food was served undercooked
• Birds were seen in and around the restaurant area
• Hot food was served lukewarm in the restaurant
• Fresh food was seen to be piled on top of food that had been left out on the buffet.

Now Catherine’s legal team at Irwin Mitchell have secured her a four-figure settlement for the pain and suffering caused and her loss of earnings, from the tour operator Thomas Cook.

Amandeep Dhillon, a specialist travel lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Catherine, said: 

Expert Opinion

We are pleased that we have now secured a settlement from Thomas Cook for Catherine’s awful experience at this resort.

“Catherine’s holiday was meant to be a relaxing break with her best friend but it was ruined by her illness.

“We have seen a number of instances in the past where Salmonella has had a major impact on sufferers, with problems often leading to the development of long-term health conditions which sufferers may never fully recover from.” Amandeep Dhillon - Partner

In Catherine’s case, this illness has left her with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. 

Catherine said: “I was so disappointed with the conditions at the hotel and the apparent lack of appropriate health and hygiene standards. My friend and I booked this trip so we could get away from it all and have a relaxing break in the sun, instead it turned out to be a truly awful experience and I am still suffering today with on-going issues.

“When I did try to complain to hotel staff about the conditions in the restaurant and the general hygiene of the hotel they were extremely rude and would not accept that there was a problem.

“I am pleased that the legal proceedings have now finished and I can start to put this holiday nightmare behind me and look towards the future.”