Partially Blind Woman Has Instructed Specialist Lawyers At Irwin Mitchell To Investigate Conditions At Holiday Resort

A partially blind woman whose luxury holiday at a five-star Jamaican resort to celebrate her birthday last year was ruined when she suffered serious gastric illness has called on specialist lawyers to help her gain answers regarding the ordeal she went through.

Lorna Lesley Neild, from Gateshead, fell ill just three days into her stay at The Royalton Negril, which was booked with TUI UK Limited t/a Thomson Holidays, with symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting proving so severe that she spent her 62nd birthday with the resort doctor rather than celebrating her special day.

She has also revealed how the dehydration caused by the illness meant she suffered irritation with a lens she wears in her partially blind eye which she had to be careful with because she had previously been advised she could lose the eye altogether if she does not look after the lens properly and the eye becomes infected as a result.

Lorna has advised how she has continued to suffer with symptoms of diarrhoea and stomach cramps upon returning home.

Following the problems on the holiday, which cost her more than £2,000.00, she has instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team to help her gain answers as to what caused her to fall ill.

Amandeep Samra, the legal expert at Irwin Mitchell who is representing Lorna, said: 

Expert Opinion

“This is a very concerning case which highlights the significant consequences that illness problems of this kind can have on those affected.

“Not only did our client’s illness have a major impact on what was meant to be a relaxing luxury break, but she also ran the risk of further serious health problems as a result of the symptoms she endured.

“We are already working hard to investigate the issues she faced and are determined to ensure she gains the answers she deserves regarding her ordeal. As part of our enquiries, we would be keen to hear from anyone else who may also have been affected.” Amandeep Singh Samra - Associate Solicitor

Mother-of-two Lorna travelled to the hotel, which includes a state-of-the-art spa and seven restaurants, alone on June 3rd and she was just a few days into the break when the illness emerged.

She said: “The illness was really horrible and I struggled a lot as a result of it. It was completely devastating to spend my actual birthday on June 10th with the resort doctor – this was meant to be a very special luxury break but the truth is it was far from it in the end.

“I had seen a lot of issues which had concerned me. During my stay at the hotel the electricity went off on a couple of occasions and there were a few instances where the air conditioning went off in the hotel. On one occasion we were at dinner when the lighting went off and some guests were using the torches on their phones for a little while to be able to see until the lights went back on.

"In addition, I witnessed on a couple of occasions the hotel staff using the same tongs for cooked meat that they had used for raw meat. On occasions food was served lukewarm and the table linen often looking dirty.  I simply never expected that I would suffer an illness.

“I clearly deserve some answers regarding what caused me to fall ill. This was supposed to be a trip to remember, yet sadly it only will be now for the wrong reasons.”

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