Legal Experts Once Again Contacted by Dozens of Holidaymakers Regarding Notorious Cuban Resort

Specialist lawyers have been contacted by over 30 holidaymakers who suffered gastric illness at the five-star Hotel Playa Pesquero in Cuba following stays at the hotel this year.

Stephen Denham, 57, from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, has revealed how he fell ill with symptoms of vomiting three days into a 10-day all-inclusive break at the resort in July, with his wife Kathleen, 59, suffering similar problems.

However, Stephen’s problems proved so severe that he required treatment including tablets, a drip and an injection from the on-site doctor.

Following their return to the UK, the couple have instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team to investigate the issues they endured and whether anything could have been done by the hotel and the tour operator, Thomas Cook, who they booked with, to prevent them from falling ill.

It is not the first time that the legal experts have been contacted regarding the Hotel Playa Pesquero in Cuba, with the specialists already working to secure justice for 41 holidaymakers who suffered illness at the resort last year and a further 34 in 2016.

The firm has also successfully recovered compensation for dozens of holidaymakers who have fallen ill at this resort in 2014.

Jatinder Paul, the specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is representing the Denhams and over 30 other holidaymakers with similar complaints, said: 

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“Our clients are understandably frustrated and upset regarding the problems they have suffered during their holidays and we are already working to investigate the issues that they have reported.

“We are advising a growing group of holidaymakers caught up in these problems. As part of our investigations we would like to hear from other guests who may have information about conditions at the hotel this summer.

“This is sadly not the first time we have been contacted regarding Hotel Playa Pesquero and it is vital that the appropriate investigations are undertaken to get to the bottom of these problems. As this case shows, gastric illness can have a major impact on victims and it is clear that where possible lessons should be learned to prevent others from suffering in the future.

“We are advising a growing group of holidaymakers caught up in these problems. As part of our investigations we would like to hear from other guests who may have information about conditions at the hotel this summer.” Jatinder Paul - Partner

Stephen and Kathleen’s holiday at the Hotel Playa Pesquero began on June 25th and just several days later they started to feel unwell.

Stephen said: “Both of us were ill but I seemed to suffer the worst symptoms. I was vomiting and was basically unable to do anything. I simply had to see the on-site doctor and could not believe it when he put me on a drip and gave me an injection and tablets.

“The illness then lasted for the remaining days of our holiday so basically our holiday was completely ruined. It was meant to be a relaxing, luxury break yet ended up being the exact opposite – we are really frustrated.

“It is also very worrying to see that there have been similar issues linked to the resort in the past and we just hope that steps can be taken which will ensure no other holidaymakers go through what we have faced.”

The team at Irwin Mitchell have considerable experience of handling cases of this nature and have represented thousands of holidaymakers who have fallen ill abroad. The team have recovered millions of pounds from tour operators including representing over 600 people who fell ill at the Holiday Village in Turkey over successive years between 2009 and 2014, and over 1,000 fell who fell ill following holidays at the Bahia Principe in the Dominican Republic in 2007.

The firm also notably acts for over 40 holidaymakers who suffered illness at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt, earlier this year.

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