Lawyers Contacted For Fourth Consecutive Year Regarding Hotel Playa Pesquero

A couple from Gwynedd, who are continuing to suffer after they fell ill towards the end of a holiday at a five-star Cuban resort earlier this year, have called on legal experts to help them gain answers regarding how the luxury break became a ‘nightmare’.

Retired engineer, Richard Holland, 69, from Gwynedd, fell ill towards the end of the two-week holiday with his wife at the Hotel Playa Pesquero in May, which was booked as a birthday celebration. The gastric symptoms the couple suffered, including diarrhoea, meant that Richard endured a very difficult journey home.

Following the problems, the couple instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team to investigate the issues that they faced during the holiday, which they booked through Thomas Cook, and to and help them understand whether more could have been done to prevent the problems.

The legal experts have vast experience in holiday illness cases and have recovered millions of pounds in damages, having represented large numbers of claimants in group actions against hotels and cruise lines. The legal experts have also represented dozens of holidaymakers who have suffered problems at the Hotel Playa Pesquero in the past four years, including 11 holidaymakers in 2015 alone.

Jennifer Mullins, the specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is representing the couple, said: 

Expert Opinion

“We are very concerned by the reports we have heard from our clients regarding this holiday and we have already commenced our investigations into the issues that they have faced.

“The impact that gastric illnesses of this nature can have should never be underestimated. We have seen numerous cases in which people have been forced to take time off work, needed care and support or even developed long-term health problems as a result of such issues.

“It is particularly concerning that we have been contacted regarding this hotel once again and we are determined to ensure that our clients get the answers and justice that they deserve regarding these problems.” Jennifer Hodgson - Associate Solicitor

Richard Holland fell ill on the morning of the couple’s departure from the Hotel Playa Pesquero.

He recalled: “There are a few things that had concerned us during the holiday, such as food sometimes being served lukewarm or cold, new food at times coming out of the kitchen which was then placed on top of existing food and on occasions seeing birds walking through the food.

“The trip home was really difficult as I needed to go to the toilet both in the airport and throughout the flight home. We then faced a three-hour journey back from Manchester Airport once back in the UK, so that was a massive struggle too. It was hugely frustrating when my wife fell ill too and we are both still trying to get over it.

“We have been to Cuba many times before but have never fallen ill, even when staying at less luxurious resorts. This holiday was meant to be a memorable one, but sadly we’ll only now remember it for all of the wrong reasons. We’re just terribly upset by the whole issue and we want answers regarding what happened.”