Families Continue Battle For Justice Over Illness Problems At Resort

Travel law experts at Irwin Mitchell acting for two British families whose holidays in the Dominican Republic in May 2009 were destroyed by illness are calling for answers over the problems they have faced.

Both families who visited the Grand Oasis Hotel endured a range of problems at the resort, including being served undercooked food prepared in kitchens where animals regularly roamed. They were also forced to clean their rooms themselves after a storm resulted in them being flooded with sewage.

Experts at Irwin Mitchell are acting on behalf of Lynn and Nigel Bryett, 56 and 49, along with Michael Edwards, 49, his wife Linzie and their son Zak – who are all from Doncaster – in their legal battle against Thomas Cook over the problems.

The company has already settled claims related to Nigel, Linzie and Zak, but are yet to settle the claims related to Lynn and Michael, who have both continued to suffer from diarrhoea, stomach pains and blood in stools since the holiday.

Sonehal Kooner, the travel law expert at Irwin Mitchell working for the families, said: “Basic standards of both food and hygiene are the minimum expectation at any hotel, let alone a luxury island resort. The conditions at the Dominican resort fell far short of these expectations. Having to clean their own rooms of sewage is utterly unacceptable at any level.

“We would urge the tour operator to work with us to amicably settle the remaining claims.”

The group reported problems with hygiene standards at the resort before the storm forced them to take matters in their own hands. Both families have told of how there was a sewage smell from the plumbing, as well as dogs, birds, flies and ants seen in the kitchen.

They were also served undercooked food which was often left uncovered and exposed for some time.

Mr Edwards said: “My health has been severely impacted as a result of the holiday. The general state of the hotel was appalling and the fact that my wife was left to clean sewage out of our room herself is unforgiveable.

“The storm left us ankle deep in water, which was not only unhygienic, but also dangerous. We went on holiday to relax, but the reality could not have been further from it.”