Salmonella Victim Hospitalised After Stay At Hotel Playa Pesquero

A 31-year-old man who suffered a suspected heart attack after contracting Salmonella during his sister’s wedding celebrations in Cuba two years ago has revealed how he wants to put the problems behind him, after lawyers secured him a £30,000 settlement regarding the ‘nightmare’.

Police officer, Philip Miller, from Weston-Super-Mare, required two stays in hospital for treatment for chest pains and fluid on his heart in the month after he returned from the special two-week family holiday at the Hotel Playa Pesquero in November and December 2013.

The health problems he suffered after developing symptoms, which included abdominal pains, diarrhoea and severe lethargy, began just three days into the holiday and had such an impact on him that he needed three months off work to recover.

Now, after specialist illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell helped him to secure a £30,000 settlement from TUI UK, who did not admit liability, following the Salmonella he contracted, Philip has revealed how he is finally looking to the future following the holiday nightmare.

This is not the first time the legal experts have been instructed by holidaymakers regarding the resort  as they are continuing to work to secure financial awards for others affected by illness problems there including others who have suffered with Salmonella, during their stays at the resort in 2012 and 2013. The firm also notably acts for 24 holidaymakers who stayed at the resort in the summer of 2014.

Expert Opinion

"This case is a shocking reminder of the huge consequences that illnesses such as Salmonella can have on victims, with a healthy 30-year-old developing serious health problems after falling ill on what was meant to be a special family holiday.

"The issues that Philip endured had a major impact on his life and as a result we are delighted to have helped him secure a settlement which will go some way towards compensating him for the impact this illness has had on his life.

"We are now focused on helping others affected by problems at the same resort to get the justice that they deserve." Jatinder Paul - Partner

Philip Miller stayed at the Hotel Playa Pesquero from November 22nd 2013 and fell ill just three days into the holiday, his symptoms limiting his opportunity to celebrate his sister’s wedding on November 27th.

He said: “This was meant to be a special holiday for the whole family, but the symptoms I suffered meant that I simply could not enjoy it at all.

“I was devastated and angry that I wasn’t able to focus on my sister’s big day and instead had to spend time battling my illness. However, at that point I had no idea that the problems would get so much worse.”

Just a day after returning to the UK, Philip developed severe chest pains and was admitted to hospital on December 7th with a suspected heart attack. During this time, medical experts also confirmed he was suffering from Salmonella and myopericarditis – or fluid on this heart.

Despite being treated and subsequently discharged several days later, he was then admitted to Weston General Hospital again at the end of the month for further treatment due to similar pains. He then was unable to return to work until the following March when he had largely recovered.

Philip added: “I still find it hard to believe that an illness I suffered on holiday went on to start a chain of health problems which dominated my life for months.

"You just simply never expect to fall ill during a break abroad and you certainly don’t think that such issues would go on to affect you in such a way.

“Looking back on the problems, it is still so frustrating that I went through this nightmare. Now the case has settled, I’m just hoping to move on with my life and look positively to the future.”