The Woman Had Been Suffering From Gastric Illness Symptoms Causing Dehydration

A married couple who flew to Fuerteventura for a dream birthday getaway are taking legal action against tour operator Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited trading as Signature, after their holiday turned into a nightmare due to one of the couple suffering severe illness.

Susan Brown, 69 from Nottingham, had booked her holiday to the Atlantis Bahia Real Hotel, in Carralejo, Fuerteventura, with her husband, Peter Brown, to celebrate her birthday and 40th wedding anniversary. The pair travelled to the five-star hotel on 26 April, this year, for a week.

However things soon turned sour as late on, on only the second day Susan began to feel ill, suffering from gastric illness symptoms including dehydration caused by diarrhoea. Due to the severity of her illness, Susan suffered a fall and was taken by ambulance to a clinic where she was told she had dislocated her shoulder.

Susan has instructed expert International Personal Injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how she fell ill and the legal team has now written to holiday provider Thomas Cook in relation to the couple’s experience.

Susan has described how at the clinic she was subjected to excruciating pain as the doctor tried to put her shoulder back in place. When his attempts failed another ambulance was called and Susan was taken to a hospital. Susan underwent x-rays and was informed by the hospital doctor that her collarbone was badly bruised.

Upon her arrival back in the UK, Susan went to her local hospital, Sherwood Forest Hospitals, where it was confirmed after further x-rays that her collarbone was in fact broken.

She has also advised her legal team that she was admitted to hospital for two nights following her return to the UK due to her on going illness. She has been advised she needs to have a number of blood tests.

Amandeep Samra, expert International Personal Injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Susan, said: 

Expert Opinion

“We are very concerned by Susan’s experience and are investigating what caused Susan to fall ill.

“Gastric illness can have a significant impact on a person’s health and it is important that hotels and resorts ensure they maintain high levels of food and personal hygiene. Due to symptoms caused by her gastric illness, Susan which further worsened her health.

“We are determined to help Susan and Peter obtain answers regarding the issues they have faced. As part of our investigation we would be keen to hear from anyone else who was affected or witnessed the problems at the Atlantis Bahia Real Hotel.” Amandeep Singh Samra - Associate Solicitor

Susan has informed her legal team that she had a fish meal for her evening meal one night, which had just been brought out from the kitchen before it was served. She recalled that the fish was put up on spikes and waiters cut and served the fish. When Susan began to eat her portion, she noticed that the fish skin was a green/grey colour and did not taste right so she didn’t eat what was left.

Susan further noticed that on occasions the food was served lukewarm and that sometimes the food was left uncovered which meant flies could land on it. She further commented that the eggs served at breakfast were runny and not cooked thoroughly.

Susan also told lawyers how their issues began before they even arrived in Fuerteventura.

When she and her husband arrived for their outward flight, they were informed by Thomas Cook that their flight was overbooked and as a result Peter would have to take a different flight. Susan, who suffers from a bad back, was told that someone would be at the destination airport to help her with her luggage, however when she arrived she was left on her own to collect her bags.

Susan, who has been married to Peter for 40 years, said: “It was an absolutely terrifying experience, a true holiday from hell. From the moment we arrived at the airport the holiday just went wrong. At no point did Thomas Cook give us the impression that they genuinely cared for our well-being.

“It was supposed to be an amazing holiday in a luxury setting but it was a living nightmare. You don’t expect to come home from holiday feeling worse than when you went away, especially coming back with a broken collarbone.

“I just want to find out how I became so ill and see if anything could have been done to prevent it. It’s important that all visitors to the resort – especially vulnerable ones such as children and the elderly - can be protected from such illness. You just don’t expect to come back from holiday feeling so much worse than when you went away.”