Call For Answers Regarding Problems At Turkish Resort

Holidaymakers have instructed specialist International Personal Injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate after they were struck down by serious gastric illness while staying at the same five-star hotel.

The two families say that their holidays at the Paloma Grida Resort and Spa in Turkey were ruined because of illness which left a mum and daughter hospitalised.

The families from Sheffield and Glasgow have now instructed expert lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help them gain answers regarding the problems and if more could have been done to prevent it.

They stayed at the hotel in Antalya in April and May this year after all booking through Thomas Cook.

Irwin Mitchell has also been instructed by a man from Coventry who fell ill during a stay at the hotel.

He was hospitalised shortly after his return to the UK in May suffering from symptoms including a cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pains and headaches. He was subsequently diagnosed with suspected Legionnaires’ disease.

The man is still undergoing a course of antibiotics for his symptoms.

Jayne Murphy, the legal expert at Irwin Mitchell who is representing the families, said: “We are hugely concerned by the reports provided to us by our clients and have already commenced investigations into what they have been through.

“A case of this kind highlights the significant impact that gastric illness can have on those affected, not only spoiling precious family time abroad but also then affecting their lives back in the UK too.

“Tour operators and resorts have key responsibilities when it comes to hygiene and health and safety, so we will be examining whether lessons can be learned from this case which will ultimately improve standards.”

Case studies

Sheffield

Ian McGovern, 24, from Gleadless Valley in Sheffield, has revealed how he and his partner Sharni Bishop, 23, suffered sickness, diarrhoea and severe stomach cramps towards the end of their first family holiday together at the Paloma Grida Resort and Spa with Ellie-Mae, five, and Samantha, four.

The family went on holiday on 16 May, with the first signs of illness emerging five days later on the 21 May.

The problems proved so severe that Ian continued to struggle with the symptoms for around two weeks after the holiday came to an end, with the issues meaning that he was also forced to take time off from his job as a part-time carer to recover.

Ian recalled: “This was our first family holiday altogether, so we had been looking forward to it for a long time. While we had seen some issues which concerned us like some of the food sometimes seemingly being reheated and cats on occasions lurking around the restaurant, we never thought for one second we were at risk of illness.

“The sickness hit Sharni and I really hard and it was really tough to get any enjoyment out of the last few days. The kids were understandably upset about what was going on and it was really disappointing to then see the illness continue on our return to the UK.

“You never expect that something like this will happen to you and we are hugely frustrated by what has gone on. This was supposed to be a memorable break and we want answers regarding why we will now only remember it for the wrong reasons.”

Glasgow

Amber Cully, 35, from Drumchapel in Glasgow also travelled to the Paloma Grida Resort and Spa with her husband James Cully, 46, children, Amelia and James, aged 15 and five as well as Amber’s parents. Amber, her children and her father fell ill suffering from diarrhoea, sickness and stomach cramps.

Amber and Amelia were hospitalised for two days while abroad because of their symptoms. 

Following the ordeal, the families have now instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team to investigate just how their illnesses emerged during the holiday which was booked between 7 April and 22 April and whether more could have been done to prevent it.

Amber commented: “The resort did not live up to its star rating. There was an obvious shortage of staff.

“Some of the food was on occasions undercooked which I did report to the staff. If there was an illness or problems at the hotel before me and my family arrived we should have been notified and moved to another hotel.

“The holiday was booked to spend some quality family time together but the memory of the holiday is tainted by the majority of us falling ill and Amelia and I having to go to hospital which was a horrible experience.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling holiday illness cases.