Illness At Tropicana Grand Azure

Appalling conditions at an Egyptian hotel left a British tourist with such severe gastroenteritis that doctors believe it caused him to suffer a stroke.

Frank Ruddick, 71, had to be brought back to the UK by air ambulance after suffering the stroke while on holiday with his wife Ann at the Tropicana Grand Azure in Nabq Bay, Sharm el Sheikh, in January 2010.

Mrs Ruddick blames the unhygienic conditions at the hotel for the severe stomach illness her husband developed just days after arriving – and a UK doctor has linked the illness to Mr Ruddick’s stroke.

The couple have now instructed travel litigation experts at Irwin Mitchell to act for them in their claim against tour operator Thomson.  

Several other guests at the hotel commented to the couple that they had been placed on IV drips due to the severity of their symptoms.  The Ruddicks were also aware of at least 2 other guests who were hospitalised due to gastric illness.  Now lawyers at Irwin Mitchell believe dozens of other people may have required medical treatment after falling ill at the hotel and have urged anyone else who suffered to come forward.

Mrs Ruddick says there were a number of problems with the hotel, including birds being allowed to fly and land near the food in the restaurant, which was left uncovered. They were also warned by the entertainment team to avoid the fish which was being served. 

She said: “You go on holiday to enjoy the weather and relax for two weeks – you don’t expect to have your life changed. Watching Frank suffering while we waited for medical assistance was absolutely heartbreaking.

“It was the worst experience of my life and I don’t want anybody else to have to go through what we did. To think that his stroke might have been prevented had conditions at the hotel been better makes me furious.”

Amandeep Dhillon, a travel litigation expert at Irwin Mitchell, said: “This is a particularly harrowing story of a couple whose lives have been irreversibly changed while on holiday.  We understand that Mr Ruddick's stroke has been linked to the illness that he contracted on holiday.  While we will be investigating this matter further, this is clearly a cause of great concern.

“Health and safety standards appear to have been allowed to slip to unacceptable levels at this hotel and we are keen to hear from anyone else who may have been taken ill following suspected food poisoning at the Tropicana Grand Azure."

“It is the responsibility of the tour operator to ensure that health and safety standards are maintained so that holidaymakers' health is not put at risk. We invite Thomson to enter into early and constructive negotiations with us to enable the fair and prompt compensation of our clients.”