Specialist Lawyers Have Been Instructed To Investigate The Cause Of The Illness

A couple whose holiday to a five-star resort in Egypt was ruined when one of them fell ill have instructed specialist International Personal Injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the cause of their illness.

Oliver Carney, 24, and Daniel Core, 26, from Liverpool, booked their holiday at the five-star Steigenberger Aqua Magic resort in Egypt shortly after returning from the resort in March this year. The couple booked a week-long stay at the resort from 1 May through Thomas Cook Tour Operations Limited.

Unfortunately for the couple, their second visit did not bring them as much happiness as their first as Oliver found himself suffering from gastric illness symptoms, including diarrhoea and vomiting.

After seeing a doctor while in Egypt, Oliver was given two anti-sickness injections and anti-diarrhoea tablets by the doctor to help ease his symptoms while he was still abroad.

Oliver instructed expert International Personal Injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate how he came to fall so ill and whether more could have been done to prevent it.

Oliver recalled to his legal team, that for one evening meal at the hotel he had BBQ glazed chicken, and the chicken was pink in the middle.

Oliver, who works as a front of house Team Member at a catering establishment, said: “We enjoyed our stay at the resort so much in March and we were so excited to return for another week. Unfortunately the two holidays ended up being very different.

“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.”

Further to the undercooked chicken, Oliver and Daniel have raised other concerns with their legal team including on several occasions seeing flies around the uncovered food, uncooked omelettes sometimes being served and staff not always using gloves when handling food.

Daniel also recalls that on three occasions the electricity in their room stopped working for a period of time. Fortunately the phones were still working and the couple were told by the concierge that there was an issue with the electricity in the whole hotel.

Oliver is also concerned about the anti-sickness injection as the doctor said it should help his vomiting stop within the hour but although he was given the injection at 10:30pm, he was still vomiting at 7am the next morning.

After speaking with other guests, the couple became concerned Oliver had received a different injection to the one he was meant to have. Another guest at the hotel believed she had been given the same injection for her broken foot.

Nichola Blackburn, the legal specialist in Irwin Mitchell’s International Personal Injury team representing Oliver, said: 

Expert Opinion

“We are concerned by the first-hand account of what our clients faced during what was meant to be a special holiday for them both.

“A case of this nature demonstrates how serious gastric illness can be, with Oliver still suffering from the same symptoms weeks after returning home.

“We have now commenced our own investigations into the holiday illness and are keen to determine what can be done to ensure that they gain answers as to what caused Oliver to fall ill. As part of our investigation we would be keen to hear from anyone else who was affected or witness the problems at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic resort in Egypt.” Nichola Blackburn - Paralegal

If you've suffered an illness whilst abroad or on holiday, our personal injury solicitors could help you claim compensation. Visit our Holiday Sickness Claims & Illness Compensation page for more information.