Honeymooners Who Saved Up For Two Years For Their Trip Continue To Suffer

A group of 26 disgruntled holidaymakers, including a couple on honeymoon, have instructed expert international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate an outbreak of illness including gastroenteritis at the five-star Jaz Aquaviva Resort in Egypt.

Among the group of holidaymakers taking legal action are Jessica, 35, and Andrew Whittington, 39, who travelled to Egypt for a week-long stay at the resort in June this year for their honeymoon. The holiday was booked with TUI UK Limited t/a First Choice. The couple, from Horsham, West Sussex, travelled with their two children, Max, 12, and Mia, 5. 

Unfortunately for the family, the honeymoon was ruined due to all of the family, with the exception of Mia, falling ill. Those that suffered illness are continuing to suffer from their symptoms a month after returning from their holiday.

The group legal action includes another family-of-four, the Moores from Stowmarket, Suffolk, who travelled to the hotel for two weeks in June and were at the hotel the same time as the Whittingtons. Abby Moore, 34, has raised numerous hygiene concerns with the legal team at Irwin Mitchell, including undercooked food served on occasions, re-used rice sometimes served and on occasions the same utensils being used for raw and cooked eggs and meat.

Nichola Blackburn, an international personal injury specialist for Irwin Mitchell, which has successfully represented hundreds of holidaymakers who have contracted gastric illnesses abroad, said: 

Expert Opinion

“Gastroenteritis can have serious, long-term health implications for those affected.

“We are now representing over 25 people who were affected by illness at the Jaz Aquaviva Resort following holidays this spring and summer, and we are still receiving enquiries from other guests at the hotel suggesting that something was awry.

“Many of our clients are giving us similar descriptions of their time at the resort and the problems that they faced, including incidents of faeces in the swimming pool, which some of our clients witnessed and believe were not dealt with properly.

“We would encourage anyone who stayed at the Jaz Aquaviva Resort this year and has since experienced gastric symptoms, to see their GP at the earliest available opportunity. We would also like to speak with them as they may be able to help with our investigations.” Nichola Blackburn - Paralegal

Two days into her honeymoon, Jessica began to suffer from severe diarrhoea and stomach cramps. The following day, Jessica saw the resort’s doctor and was put on an IV drip. Still feeling unwell the next day, Jessica returned to the resort’s clinic and was put on an IV drip again.

Jessica has recalled to her legal team that she had concerns about the food hygiene practice at the hotel from her arrival, with food sometimes being served lukewarm and raw food being left out uncovered on occasions. She also has video footage of chefs handling raw meat, cooked meat and salad all while wearing the same gloves.

The family also held concerns over the cleanliness of the resort, including the tablecloths at dinner sometimes being dirty and cutlery being provided on occasions that was not properly cleaned. Jessica also found the family’s room to be ‘quite dirty’ with hairs in the corners of the room and dried urine around the bottom of the toilet.

Jessica, who works as a self-employed cleaner, said: “Andrew, Max and I all felt unwell early into the honeymoon and unfortunately we still continue to suffer from our symptoms. As soon as we got to our room I found it quite dirty and uncomfortable, and sadly the holiday went downhill from there.

“I have travelled to Egypt eight times and never fallen ill before. The staff were pleasant to interact with, they just need hygiene training.

“This was meant to be our honeymoon, a dream holiday. We saved up for two years to afford it, but it ended up being a nightmare that we still haven’t recovered from.”

Abby, who travelled to Egypt with her husband, Timothy, and their two children, Theo and Charlie, two days before the Whittingtons, also received medical attention at the resort’s clinic. However, due to Abby’s medical history she was transferred to hospital where she was put on an IV drip and given antibiotics. 

Abby, who has been married to Timothy for five years, said: “We didn’t really feel like we had a holiday as we came back feeling so much worse than when we left. It was probably the hardest holiday I have ever been on. 

“We only went to the beach twice in the entire two weeks we were there and if it hadn’t been for the kids, we would have just stayed in the room for the entire holiday.

“I am not surprised we are not the only group of holidaymakers who have fallen ill at this hotel this year. All we want to know now is what caused our illness and ruined our holiday, and could more have been done to protect the guests of the hotel.”