Group Of Friends Say Shocking Hygiene On Blue Horizon Diving Cruise To Blame For Suspected Salmonella And Shigella

A group of divers has instructed expert international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate conditions aboard a diving expedition boat in Hurghada after their Egyptian “wrecks and reefs” tour was ruined by food poisoning.

John Taylor, 61, from Bootle, Merseyside is still suffering from fatigue a month on from the “disastrous” seven-day Red Sea diving holiday with four friends, which was marred by suspected salmonella and shigella.

Shigella is a bacterial infection most commonly contracted by consuming food or water that has become contaminated. Symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration and weight loss and can lead to long term issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME.

The group, from Merseyside Sub Aqua Club in Wallasey, has instructed expert international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the outbreak which left them unable to complete their four-dive a day itinerary which included Red Sea wrecks Thistlegorm and Dunraven, and reef diving in the Ras Mohamed Marine Park.

John and his friends on board the Blue Horizon said food was on occasions served undercooked and had to be sent back as well as some of the food being left out on deck while they were diving.

Expert Opinion

“Gastric illnesses such as salmonella and shigella can have a significant long-term impact on those affected, with such problems leaving people with long-term health issues from which they sometimes never fully recover.

“Not only was John and his friends’ holiday ruined, but a month on they are all still suffering from the effects of their illness.

“The seriousness of these problems cannot be downplayed and, as such, we are now investigating the group’s stay on board the Blue Horizon and are keen to hear from anyone else affected during the same diving trip, or who witnessed the problems/conditions on board.” Jennifer Downing - Solicitor

The group flew out to Hurghada in Egypt on May 12 this year for the action-packed adventure break which included three daytime dives and one night dive each day.

On day three of their holiday the dive party began to suffer from stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting and had to be confined to their cabins, unable to re-enter the water for their scheduled hour-long dives. John was given antibiotics and antispasmodics to sooth stomach spasms but was left too ill to complete the itinerary.

It wasn’t until the party returned to the UK four days later on May 19 that some of the group were diagnosed with gastric illness including the suspected food poisoning bacterium salmonella, and shigella.

John, a retired medic in the off shore oil industry, said: “Diving is a real passion and we were all really looking forward to being able to explore the wrecks and reefs Egypt had to offer. But the trip ended up a disaster with less than half the itinerary completed and us all feeling dreadful. We came back to the UK miserable and angry we could have all got so ill. It wasn’t just us either, we knew of others on the trip not in our party who were ill too, so I think many holiday was pretty miserable.

“Since being back I’ve still been suffering the effects of the illness. I’ve not been able to spend as much time around my granddaughter nor do the school run, which is upsetting. I still have this lingering lethargy and fragility that I don’t seem able to shake.

“I just want to know why our holiday was ruined. These cruises are made for divers so staff should know when we are coming up from the dive and schedule food accordingly and good hygiene is paramount anywhere you stay.

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