Man Fell Ill With Suspected Salmonella During Stay At Crete Hotel

Two separate groups who required medical attention during their stay at Iberostar Creta Panorama and Mare hotel in August last year have instructed specialist travel lawyers to help them find answers about what caused their illness.

Colin Lewis, 40, from Widnes, Cheshire, suffered illness, suspected by his doctor to be a Salmonella infection, during his stay at the Iberostar Creta Panorama and Mare hotel in August 2015, which he booked through Jet2holidays Limited.

He required medical treatment from the hotel doctor while holidaying with his friend. On his return home, he also needed two weeks off work as the symptoms continued. 

The Nicholson family from Wirral, Merseyside, who booked their holiday through TUI UK Limited trading as First Choice Holidays and spent time at the hotel during the same month as Colin, suffered severe gastric problems included diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps. 

Emma Nicholson, 43, travelled to the hotel with her husband Stephen, 45, and their daughter Amber, 16. All three of them suffered severe gastric symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach pains.

Emma was visited by the hotel doctor and was prescribed medication to alleviate the symptoms. She lost weight as a result of the illness and was diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

Now, after instructing legal experts in Irwin Mitchell’s International Personal Injury team to investigate the illness they faced during their holidays,

Colin and the Nicholson family have revealed their hopes for answers regarding their ordeal.

Nichola Blackburn, an expert in Irwin Mitchell’s International Personal Injury team, who is representing both groups, said: 

Expert Opinion

“We are incredibly concerned by the first-hand accounts we have received regarding illness at the Iberostar Creta Panorama and Mare hotel and have started looking into the illness Colin and the Nicholson family faced.

“The ordeal both groups went through is an important reminder of how holiday illness can significantly disrupt people’s lives. As such, the seriousness of these issues cannot be underestimated and we are determined to ensure that our clients get the answers they deserve surrounding their illness.

“We would also like to hear from anyone else who stayed at the hotel in Crete as they may be able to help with our investigations and help provide our clients with the answers they’re looking for.” Nichola Blackburn - Paralegal

Both parties told their legal team at Irwin Mitchell that the food hygiene standards at the hotel were not what they expected. They said food was on occasions left uncovered, food was sometimes undercooked and that on occasions they saw fresh food being added to old food.

Colin, a teacher, recalled that he fell ill mid-way through his holiday, resulting in him having to pay for medical attention from the hotel doctor. On his return home he visited his GP.

He said: “When I initially got ill I was really worried because I didn’t want to ruin my friend’s holiday too. I was barely eating and I just wasn’t getting any better – I knew I had to visit a doctor. I still didn’t feel 100 per cent myself when I got home and thought it best to visit my doctor. 

“I was really glad when my GP finally advised me what was wrong with me.  I had to have time off work to get better; even now I am still not fully recovered as I’m still suffering with some of the symptoms. All I wanted was to get back to normal but the symptoms were absolutely horrendous. 

“You really don’t ever expect something like this to happen to you on your holiday and it was devastating to see my holiday ruined like this. I want answers to the questions we have about what caused the illness.”

Emma Nicholson and her family who stayed at the hotel in the same month as Colin recalled having similar issues during their time there.

Emma said: “We were very much looking forward to our family holiday last year and couldn’t wait to visit Crete. It’s such a shame that our time away was completely ruined by illness.

“We all suffered with sickness and diarrhoea, and the symptoms were absolutely horrendous. The doctor ended up visiting me in my hotel room and I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, which was not at all what you expect from a holiday.”