Expert Lawyers At Irwin Mitchell Secure Suffolk Man Five-Figure Settlement

A Suffolk man who continues to suffer health problems related to a serious gastric illness he suffered during a holiday in 2012 has received a five-figure settlement after successful legal action against tour operator TUI UK LIMITED T/A FIRST CHOICE.

Stephen Robson, 52 , and his wife Susan, 42, travelled to the Dreams Resort in the Dominican Republic in 2012 after Stephen’s brother booked the holiday through First Choice as a present for the couple’s first wedding anniversary.

However, just days into the trip in October 2012 Stephen began suffering with diarrhoea and vomiting. After receiving treatment at the resort his symptoms continued and he was eventually rushed to hospital, where he remained for three days.

As well as ruining the couple’s holiday, the illness Stephen suffered led to him being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome and he has also stopped eating certain foods, including spices and cereals, as they exacerbate his symptoms.

Shortly after his holiday Stephen, from Lowestoft, contacted expert international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the problems he suffered at the luxury resort and if more could and should have been done by the tour operator, TUI UK Ltd T/A First Choice, to prevent his illness.

The lawyers have now secured Stephen an undisclosed five-figure settlement to compensate him for the holiday he was unable to enjoy with his wife, as well as the pain he suffered and the long-term health issues he has developed following the gastric illness.

Jennifer Downing, an expert international personal injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who represented Stephen, said:

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“The ordeal Stephen went through and the on-going health problems he suffers as a result shows just how much of an impact gastric illness can have. He was rushed to hospital in the Dominican Republic and he has been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome since his return to the UK.

“We are now delighted to have secured a settlement for Stephen to cover the cost of the ruined holiday and the illness he suffered. It is important tour operators take the appropriate steps to ensure the hotels they are sending holidaymakers to have appropriate systems and policies in place.

“Hopefully, Stephen can now put the terrible experience behind him and begin to move on.”
Jennifer Downing - Solicitor

Irwin Mitchell represented a total of ten people who suffered illness problems at the Dreams Resort in October 2012.

Stephen said: “We were really disappointed with the resort and our experience overall as we noticed some things we were very concerned about. The food was often served lukewarm and left uncovered for long periods of time, which meant insects and birds in the restaurant area were able to get at it.

“I never thought that these issues would lead to me developing such terrible symptoms, which appear to have caused me significant long-term health complications, which I may never fully recover from.

“We put our trust in First Choice and the hotel and expected to enjoy a relaxing break away to celebrate our anniversary, but we were left extremely angry and disappointed by the experience.

“Hopefully, by taking legal action we have encouraged First Choice to make sure the resorts it sends holidaymakers to,  take hygiene seriously and that practices are changed so this kind of thing won’t happen to other people in the future.”