First Wedding Anniversary Ruined By Gastric Illness In Mexico

A couple who travelled to an all-inclusive Mexican resort to celebrate their first wedding anniversary together have instructed international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate after their romantic break was ruined by gastric illness.

Stephen Burke, 31, and his wife, Kelli, 26, booked a luxury break at the Catalonia Yucatan Beach resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico with Thomas Cook to celebrate their anniversary in May 2016.

Towards the end of their 14-day break at the all-inclusive resort, Stephen developed stomach pains and began to suffer diarrhoea, vomiting and flu-like symptoms after eating at one of the resort’s restaurants.

He was examined by a doctor at the resort and was given an injection to relieve his symptoms, but he continued to endure them for the remainder of the holiday and on his return to the UK.

The couple, from Warrington, have now instructed international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate what caused Stephen’s illness, which has left them with terrible memories of their first anniversary holiday.

Clare Comiskey, an associate at Irwin Mitchell, representing the couple, said:

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“Clearly Stephen and Kelli were expecting a fantastic holiday to celebrate their first year of marriage, but sadly they did not experience this and have been left with terrible memories of the holiday as a result of the illness Stephen endured in the final few days of the break.

“We have now launched our own investigation into the illness he suffered at the resort. Holidaymakers should not expect to come home feeling ill when they are heading off to a luxury resort abroad to relax.

“Stephen and Kelli are hopeful that by taking legal action they will ensure the concerns they have about the standard of the hotel and the hygiene practices in place will be addressed by Thomas Cook, whom they booked their holiday with, as they simply do not want to see others go through the same ordeal they did.” Clare Comiskey - Legal Executive & Associate

Stephen told his legal team that the restaurants at the resort were not of the standard they expected from a four-star resort and that he had told staff on one occasion of undercooked chicken earlier in the couple’s holiday. He also said they often saw dirty glassware being used in one of the resort’s restaurants.

Stephen said: “We were already disappointed by the standard of the hotel restaurants as I had to complain about being served undercooked chicken earlier in the holiday.

“But when I began to suffer the terrible symptoms I endured towards the end of the holiday we became extremely frustrated. It was absolutely horrendous and it cost us the final few days of our holiday, as well as time when we got back to the UK as the symptoms continued.

“I lost weight as a result of the problems I suffered and it turned the holiday into a complete nightmare that we will remember for all of the wrong reasons. I want to know that Thomas Cook are taking our concerns seriously and hope that by beginning legal action we will encourage them to take a look at the standard of this hotel.”