Kuoni Travel Facing Legal Action After Gastric Illness At Kuramathai Island Resort

A couple whose holiday to celebrate a 50^th birthday and their wedding anniversary at a luxury Maldives resort was ruined by severe gastric illness are taking legal action against tour operator Kuoni Travel.

Ian and Mandy Wesley, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, travelled to the four-star Kuramathai Island Resort, Maldives, for a luxury all-inclusive break in May this year to celebrate Mandy’s 50^th birthday.

However it was ruined on just the third day – also their wedding anniversary – as Ian had to seek out the hotel doctor due to severe diarrhoea and excruciating stomach cramps.

The couple have now instructed specialist international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate after becoming unsatisfied with progress through Kuoni’s own complaints process.

Ian, 48, couldn’t keep any food down and lost weight making him extremely weak. He visited the hotel doctor several times receiving antibiotics and medication which the doctor described to the couple as ‘bug-killers’.

After returning home Ian was still suffering from gastroenteritis symptoms and was signed off work by his GP for two weeks.

The couple told their legal team at Irwin Mitchell that food in the buffet restaurant did not seem hot enough on occasions, that food was sometimes undercooked and that the food was not of the standard that they expected from a luxury resort.

Accounts Administrator Mandy, 50, said: “After the first few days of the holiday it became clear that it was going to be a disaster. Ian was in the hotel room for most of his time.

“When we saw the hotel doctor there were lots of others in the waiting room with the same problems and we saw someone else who said they were on their honeymoon and she had been hooked up to a drip for dehydration due to her illness.

“We had saved to go somewhere special for our holiday and although the place itself was beautiful we just did not get to enjoy it. We just want to know what happened. You do not go on holiday to come back feeling worse than when you set off. Ian was off work for a few weeks and it impacted on his pay.”

A letter to the couple from Kuoni has disputed liability for the couple’s illness but confirmed that there were other guests reporting sickness symptoms at the same time. This denial of liability prompted the couple to speak to Irwin Mitchell for legal advice.

Jatinder Paul, an Associate Solicitor and expert international personal injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell said: