Number Of Victims Contacting Experts Continues To Increase

International personal injury lawyers, who specialise in helping victims of illness outbreaks in the UK and abroad to access vital funds to support their recovery and seek answers about the cause of their illnesses, have now been contacted by dozens of passengers affected by gastric symptoms following holidays on board Fred Olsen’s Balmoral cruise ship earlier this month.

Irwin Mitchell’s legal experts have heard first-hand accounts of the issues on board the vessel’s planned cruise from Southampton to the Norwegian Fjords, which began on May 3rd 2015, but was cut short by a day after a number of passengers were reportedly affected by gastrointestinal illness.

Fred Olsen subsequently confirmed that the Balmoral was brought back to Southampton a day early to be cleaned and sanitised ahead of its next voyage.

After being instructed by a growing number of passengers from the Balmoral who are continuing to suffer as a result of the symptoms they endured, Irwin Mitchell’s specialist travel lawyers began their own investigations into the suspected outbreak.

The experts have vast expertise in illness cases of all kinds and have successfully secured settlements for hundreds of passengers affected by outbreaks of illness on board cruise liners including the Island Escape and Thomson Dream vessels. They also represent passengers affected by similar problems on Fred Olsen’s Boudicca cruise ships in 2012 and 2013.

Expert Opinion

"Having been asked to help dozens of people affected by problems on board the Balmoral earlier this month, we are continuing to investigate the circumstances to determine the cause of our clients’ illnesses.

"What is apparent is that many of those affected are continuing to either suffer on-going symptoms, or continue to feel the after effects of the illnesses they have experienced.

"Our clients’ experiences highlight how gastric illnesses contracted during cruises can often have a long-term impact on victims and why it is so important that every effort is made to learn lessons from outbreaks like this. Our investigations are underway but we remain very keen to hear from anyone else affected and who may be able to help us further with information regarding the outbreak of illness and the circumstances giving rise to it." Amandeep Dhillon - Partner

Among the latest passengers to ask Irwin Mitchell for help are Richard and Diane Early, a retired couple from Rustington, West Sussex, who were both on board the affected cruise. Richard, 68, and Diane, 67, were struck by symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain only a few days into the trip.

Richard, recalls: “It was just awful, I was so ill that I had to seek medical attention from the medical staff on board the ship, no one actually came to see us and we were only contacted by telephone.”

“The illness completely ruined what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday. I was ill before Diane. Diane was concerned that she could be struck down with the illness at any moment, unfortunately, she suffered soon after me.”

“We were so relieved when the cruise finished early as we were both keen to get back home, although we both continued to suffer with symptoms after our return. All we want is to understand how this could have happened to us and what is being done to stop it from happening in the future.”