

14.01.2015
Experts from Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team have been instructed to help the Swannell family from West Yorkshire, after father-of-three Mark was hospitalised with serious gastric illness during the special holiday at the resort to celebrate both his wife Nicola’s 40th birthday and their marriage in May 2014.
Now, Irwin Mitchell’s expert illness lawyers have launched their own investigations into the problems and have revealed their hopes that tour operator TUI UK will work with them to determine the cause of the illness and whether it was contracted at the hotel or elsewhere.
Mark explained that some of the food he was served at the hotel had been undercooked. On one occasion, he recalls that he cut in to some chicken and noticed blood in the middle. Some food was also said not have to have been served at the correct temperature.
The family also noted that food was left uncovered for prolonged periods of time and appeared as though it had been served more than once. They said that cutlery, crockery and table linen used in the restaurant was also found to be dirty, while pest control was another issue, with cats being seen in the public areas of the hotel and in the restaurant.
The law firm has previously helped holidaymakers secure justice regarding illness issues at the Holiday Village resort in Sarigerme in 2009; helping 600 people gain settlements of up to £25,000 each in relation to illness and related issues.
Jennifer Downing, a legal expert at Irwin Mitchell who is representing the family in their search for answers, said: “It is very worrying to learn of Mark’s illness.
“We have now heard first-hand accounts regarding what the Swannell family faced and have started investigations to identify the cause of Mark’s illness in order to get him and the rest of his family the answers that they deserve.
“Mark’s illness was severe. He was hospitalised for several days and the illness continued after his return home. Severe gastric illness can be very serious and can cause long lasting health problems for those unfortunate enough to suffer from it. It is important that we find out exactly what caused Mark’s illness in this case, not least so that lessons may be learned to reduce the risk of others suffering in the future like Mark and his family have.
“We would like to hear from anyone who travelled to the Holiday Village resort in Sarigerme in 2014, who could give us a first hand account of conditions at the resort.”
Mark Swannell, 46, a bus driver from Dewsbury, travelled to the Holiday Village resort in Sarigerme for a week-long break from October 23rd with his wife Nicola and their children Lewis, 13, Kyle, 13 and Keira, seven.
Mark recalls: “The whole point of the holiday was that it was a great chance for us to get away together as a family to celebrate Nicola’s 40th birthday, while we were also treating it as our belated honeymoon after we tied the knot in May. We were all so excited to be having a break and were absolutely devastated with the way everything turned out.”
Several days into the holiday, Mark fell ill with diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and lethargy.
He adds: “I was in a really bad way and Nicola had no option but to get the hotel doctor to come to our room as I felt like I was going to collapse. I was taken by wheelchair to the surgery, laid out on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to hospital – I couldn’t believe this was happening on our special family holiday.
“I was kept in hospital for the rest of the holiday. The break was totally ruined and none of the reps at the resort asked Nicola how I was doing or took any interest in my welfare.
“It has had an impact on more than the holiday though, as I was unable to return to work for one week due to my ongoing illness. I’m just so frustrated and want to know how I fell ill – this was meant to be a dream break but has become nothing but a nightmare.”
Father-Of-Three Hospitalised For Three Days With Gastric Illness
Lawyers who helped more than 600 holidaymakers secure justice regarding illness problems at the Holiday Village resort in Sarigerme, Turkey have been instructed by a family whose birthday and honeymoon celebrations at the hotel in October 2014 were ruined by illness.Experts from Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team have been instructed to help the Swannell family from West Yorkshire, after father-of-three Mark was hospitalised with serious gastric illness during the special holiday at the resort to celebrate both his wife Nicola’s 40th birthday and their marriage in May 2014.
Now, Irwin Mitchell’s expert illness lawyers have launched their own investigations into the problems and have revealed their hopes that tour operator TUI UK will work with them to determine the cause of the illness and whether it was contracted at the hotel or elsewhere.
Mark explained that some of the food he was served at the hotel had been undercooked. On one occasion, he recalls that he cut in to some chicken and noticed blood in the middle. Some food was also said not have to have been served at the correct temperature.
The family also noted that food was left uncovered for prolonged periods of time and appeared as though it had been served more than once. They said that cutlery, crockery and table linen used in the restaurant was also found to be dirty, while pest control was another issue, with cats being seen in the public areas of the hotel and in the restaurant.
The law firm has previously helped holidaymakers secure justice regarding illness issues at the Holiday Village resort in Sarigerme in 2009; helping 600 people gain settlements of up to £25,000 each in relation to illness and related issues.
Jennifer Downing, a legal expert at Irwin Mitchell who is representing the family in their search for answers, said: “It is very worrying to learn of Mark’s illness.
“We have now heard first-hand accounts regarding what the Swannell family faced and have started investigations to identify the cause of Mark’s illness in order to get him and the rest of his family the answers that they deserve.
“Mark’s illness was severe. He was hospitalised for several days and the illness continued after his return home. Severe gastric illness can be very serious and can cause long lasting health problems for those unfortunate enough to suffer from it. It is important that we find out exactly what caused Mark’s illness in this case, not least so that lessons may be learned to reduce the risk of others suffering in the future like Mark and his family have.
“We would like to hear from anyone who travelled to the Holiday Village resort in Sarigerme in 2014, who could give us a first hand account of conditions at the resort.”
Mark Swannell, 46, a bus driver from Dewsbury, travelled to the Holiday Village resort in Sarigerme for a week-long break from October 23rd with his wife Nicola and their children Lewis, 13, Kyle, 13 and Keira, seven.
Mark recalls: “The whole point of the holiday was that it was a great chance for us to get away together as a family to celebrate Nicola’s 40th birthday, while we were also treating it as our belated honeymoon after we tied the knot in May. We were all so excited to be having a break and were absolutely devastated with the way everything turned out.”
Several days into the holiday, Mark fell ill with diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea and lethargy.
He adds: “I was in a really bad way and Nicola had no option but to get the hotel doctor to come to our room as I felt like I was going to collapse. I was taken by wheelchair to the surgery, laid out on a stretcher and taken by ambulance to hospital – I couldn’t believe this was happening on our special family holiday.
“I was kept in hospital for the rest of the holiday. The break was totally ruined and none of the reps at the resort asked Nicola how I was doing or took any interest in my welfare.
“It has had an impact on more than the holiday though, as I was unable to return to work for one week due to my ongoing illness. I’m just so frustrated and want to know how I fell ill – this was meant to be a dream break but has become nothing but a nightmare.”