Couple Taken Ill On Holiday In Spain

There have been reports of another illness outbreak at the Beach Club Hotel, Torremolinos, the hotel at the centre of £2.5 million compensation pay-out to British holidaymakers.

This summer’s outbreak has shocked travel law experts at Irwin Mitchell, who represented more than 1,000 holidaymakers in their successful, record-breaking compensation bid.

Irwin Mitchell’s latest clients are Charles Fish and his wife Ann, who travelled to the hotel with Thomson Holidays in April 2008.

The couple both became ill within a few days of arriving at the hotel, with diarrhoea, abdominal pain and vomiting.

Mr Fish was admitted to hospital where he was immediately placed on a drip. He remained in hospital for 4 days. His symptoms were so severe that the couple missed their scheduled flight home as Mr Fish was deemed unfit to fly.

Mr and Mrs Fish reported poor hygiene at the hotel, including undercooked food that was often left out for long periods and a dirty floor in the restaurant. They were aware of many complaints of gastric illness amongst other guests.

Mr Fish said: “This holiday was a complete disaster. We were so upset that it was ruined through illness and what has made it worse is to learn that similar outbreaks had occurred at this hotel in the past.”

The couple have now instructed Irwin Mitchell to take legal action against their tour operator.

Clive Garner, head of Irwin Mitchell’s Travel Law team said: “This hotel has an alarming history with more than 1000 guests contracting illness after staying there between 2000 and 2002, some of whom still continue to suffer illness today."

"Since 2002, there has been an alarming pattern of reports of illness and poor hygiene conditions at this hotel. All reasonable action should have been taken by the hotel management and tour operators to ensure the hotel was safe for all of its guests. With the present level of complaints we anticipate many other guests who stayed at the Beach will instruct us to pursue claims for damages on their behalf."