Demand For Answers After Problems At Sirenis Punta Cana

A woman who was forced to cut her stay at a Dominican Republic resort earlier this year short after she was hospitalised with serious gastric illness has instructed lawyers to help her gain answers regarding her “holiday from hell”.

Kiri Howard, 25 from Leicester, fell ill with diarrhoea and stomach cramps four days into her break at the Sirenis Punta Cana resort and was advised after tests by the on-site doctor that she had to go to a local hospital for further treatment.

Following two days of medication and treatment with a drip she was discharged, but with the problems showing no signs of abating she chose to cut her holiday short and head back to the UK five days earlier than originally planned.

She has now instructed legal experts in Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team to investigate the illness problems she faced and examine whether more could have been done to prevent them from emerging.

Jennifer Downing, the specialist travel lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is representing her, said: 

Expert Opinion

“This is a very troubling case in which our client has developed a very serious illness which not only left her in hospital but also led her to cut her precious break abroad short by a significant length of time.

“No holidaymaker should have to face the experience that she has had and it is clear that steps need to be taken to understand how the illness emerged and whether it could have ultimately been prevented.

“We have already commenced our work on this case and are determined to ensure that our client’s voice is heard on this very serious matter. If you also travelled to this resort and can help with our enquiries we would like to hear from you." Jennifer Downing - Solicitor

Ambulance technician Kiri Howard’s holiday at the Sirenis Punta Cana – which was booked through TUI UK Limited  – began on May 29th and she first showed symptoms of illness on June 2nd.

Issues at the hotel were reported to include some of the food was served either lukewarm or cold, chicken was found to be undercooked and pink in the middle, some of the food was left out uncovered for long periods of time.

Kiri recalled: “The symptoms were absolutely horrific and I was in a really bad way. While I initially tried to self-medicate it had little impact so I had no choice but to see the resort doctor. I was stunned when he said that I needed to go to the hospital.

“Being in hospital for two days when you are meant to be enjoying a holiday was just surreal and very frustrating. You simply never expect something like this to happen to you and I was in a real state.”

While Kiri’s holiday was supposed to come to an end on June 13th, following her stay in hospital she chose instead to arrive back in the UK on June 8th.

She added: “When I was discharged I was still struggling quite badly and just felt I would be better off getting home. The whole experience had become a holiday from hell and I just wanted it to end.

“Now when I look back at it I’m just very angry about everything. This kind of thing should never happen when you’ve gone away for a couple of weeks of relaxing in the sun. I feel I deserve answers regarding why my break was ruined and whether more could have been done to prevent it, as well as making sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else in the future.”

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