Jake Ball ‘Struggled To Walk For Two Days’ Due To Holiday ‘Nightmare’

A Welsh international rugby star, whose family holiday at a hotel in Cyprus turned into a ‘nightmare’ when he and his baby daughter developed hand, foot and mouth has instructed specialist lawyers to help him gain answers regarding the problems.

Jake Ball, 26, who is a lock forward for Scarlets, has spoken of how he and his wife Christie, 25, were devastated when their nine-month-old baby Charlotte developed the illness during their fortnight stay at the Family Life Aeneas Resort and Spa, booked through TUI UK Limited trading as Thomson Holidays, from the end of June.

He also then went on to suffer similar symptoms just days later, with the symptoms proving so severe that he was unable to walk very far for two days due to painful swelling on his feet.

Now, after his family and other holidaymakers affected by illness instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team to investigate how the illness emerged, Jake has revealed his hope for answers about what he and his family faced.

Nichola Blackburn, an expert in the International Personal Injury team at Irwin Mitchell who is representing Jake and his family, said: 

Expert Opinion

“We are hugely concerned by the reports we have heard from our clients and have now commenced investigations into the illness suffered.

“Hand, foot and mouth is a very unpleasant illness which can take some time to clear up and the issues in this case meant that important time away together for this family was ruined.

“We are determined to ensure our clients get the answers they deserve regarding how this illness emerged and whether more could have been done to prevent them from being affected.” Nichola Blackburn - Paralegal

Jake and Christie’s stay at the Aeneas Hotel with their daughters Charlotte and Amelia, who is two, began on June 22nd, with Charlotte falling ill five days into the holiday.

Looking back, Jake recalled: “Considering Charlotte’s age we were obviously very concerned by her symptoms and when the illness was still continuing after a couple of days we knew we had to take her to a hospital. Doctors quickly diagnosed her as having hand, foot and mouth with impetigo and we were given medication and creams to treat her.

“We hoped that would be the end of it, but on June 30th I found a spot in my beard and quickly more appeared over my hands, feet and mouth.  It was hugely frustrating to get the condition and the pain was unbearable. I literally could not walk very far due to the pain in my feet. I spent much more time in my hotel room than I would have liked. It was a complete nightmare.”

Jake added that he knew his family were not the only victims of the problems, as from speaking to other holidaymakers it became apparent to him that there were a large number of holidaymakers at the hotel who were suffering with similar symptoms.

He explained: “We were not pre-warned of any illness at the resort before travelling. Despite holidaymakers becoming ill I noticed that the crèche was left open throughout our holiday and there was also no evidence of any proper cleaning taking place.

“Due to my rugby commitments it can be very difficult for us to get time away as a family and this was meant to be a special break.   Since returning home I struggled with my training as my feet were still tender and the skin was peeling off my feet.  My wife and I were completely devastated by what happened and just want to know what caused the illness. We deserve answers.”

If you've suffered an illness whilst abroad or on holiday, our personal injury solicitors could help you claim compensation. Visit our Holiday Sickness Claims & Illness Compensation page for more information.