Holidaymakers Are Taking Legal Action Against Tour Operator TUI UK Ltd Trading As First Choice

Holidaymakers are taking legal action against tour operator TUI UK Ltd trading as First Choice after their all-inclusive breaks to the Balearic Island of Majorca were ruined by illness which left them seeking medical attention.

Among those affected was Kyle Barnes, 29 from Newport in Gwent, who had travelled with his partner, Dominic Lake, 24 to stay at Club Mac, Alcudia, for two weeks in September this year.

Three days into their holiday, Kyle began to feel ill and decided to seek medical attention by visiting the hotel doctor. Kyle provided the doctor, who gave him anti-sickness pills and medication to combat his symptoms, a stool sample however Kyle is yet to receive his results even though he left his email address with the doctor and the resort.

Expert international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have now been instructed on behalf of Kyle, and a family-of-five from Bradford that have had to seek medical attention back in the UK since returning from their holiday. 

Over a dozen holidaymakers have contacted the legal team following their own illnesses contracted at the Hotel around the same time period, including families with young children with at least one holidaymaker suffering from suspected Cryptosporidium.

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it resistant to chlorine.

While this parasite can be spread in several different ways outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis arising from holidays abroad have been linked to contaminated water and food washed in contaminated water. 

Clare Pearson, the expert international personal injury lawyer for Irwin Mitchell representing the holidaymakers, said: 

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“The first-hand accounts we have heard are deeply concerning. The fact holidaymakers are still requiring medical treatment since returning from their holiday is extremely worrying and highlights how serious the health implications can be for those affected.

“These holidaymakers went on holiday, looking forward to some late summer sun and a holiday to remember but unfortunately this turned into a holiday to remember for all the wrong reasons.

“We have now launched our investigation into the illness Kyle and the others suffered at the Club Mac and we urge anyone else impacted by illness at the hotel in 2017 to contact us and help with our investigation.” Clare Pearson - Legal Executive & Associate

Kyle, who works as a complaints manager, has told his legal team that he had numerous concerns when he was at the hotel, including some of the food being cold or undercooked, food being left uncovered, and other people being ill at the hotel.

He said: “It was a very unpleasant experience overall. The pool area was littered and some of the food was often cold and surrounded by wasps  and some of the food like the burgers appeared undercooked. I saw one of the chefs pushing old food forward to the front even though it looked dried out and unappetising.

“When you pay to go away with a company like TUI UK Ltd trading First Choice, you expect a certain standard but this hotel fell extremely short of an acceptable standard. 

Kayleigh McConnachie, 31, travelled to the resort with her partner Thomas Ratcliffe, 33, and three children, Sienna, 11, William, four, and 11-month old toddler, Max.

Kayleigh suffered from gastric illness symptoms and having visited the resort doctor for treatment, is yet to have the results from her stool sample. Since returning to the UK, she continues to suffer from her symptoms and has had to take time off from her job as a cleaner due to the illness.

The family, who went to the resort in September, held similar hygiene concerns to those voiced by Kyle. However, they have also recalled to their legal team that they saw cats in the kitchen and flies on food in the restaurant. 

Most concerning is the family’s claim to have seen faeces in the pool.

Kayleigh said: “The lovely, fun family holiday we were expecting sadly turned out as something more like a nightmare. You don’t expect to go on holiday and return seeking medical treatment.

“During our stay we had spotted a few concerning issues like some of the food being served undercooked and lukewarm. “Sadly our holiday will be memorable now for all the wrong reasons and we feel we deserve answers about what happened and what caused us all to fall ill.”

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