Lawyers Instructed After Groom ‘Is Left Confined To Room’

A man who suffered serious illness problems which left him very ill during his wedding day at a Cuban holiday resort last year has called on specialist lawyers to help him gain answers regarding the ‘nightmare’.

Darren Woolf, 42, from Coventry, fell ill just four days into his very special two-week stay at the Hotel Brisas Guardalavaca in July, with the symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps and severe dehydration proving so serious that his family had to carry him to the resort’s medical centre for treatment.

However, matters got even worse when the ongoing illness meant he had no choice but to delay his wedding to his fiancée, which was due to take place halfway through the break. While the ceremony eventually went ahead two days later than planned, the ongoing illness problems meant Darren was forced to spend much of the special day recovering rather than mingling with guests.

Following the ordeal, Darren instructed specialist lawyers in Irwin Mitchell’s holiday illness team to investigate the problems that ruined his dream wedding and help him gain answers and justice regarding what went wrong. 

The experts have vast experience in providing advice and support to victims of illness at resorts and on cruise ships across the globe, helping them secure vital financial support to assist with their recovery.

Simon Prew, the legal expert at Irwin Mitchell who represents Darren, said: 

Expert Opinion

“Our client remains understandably devastated by the illness problems he suffered at this resort, with the issues going on to have a significant impact at what was meant to be a special moment in his life.

“We are hugely concerned by the first-hand account that has been provided to us and are now working to fully understand how he came to fall ill.

“Our primary focus is on ensuring that our client gets the answers he deserves. If you also stayed at this hotel and are able to help with our enquiries we would like to hear from you." Simon Prew - Team Leader & Senior Associate

Darren’s stay at the Hotel Brisas Guardalavaca, which was booked through Thomas Cook, started on July 10th. However, just days later on the 14th he started to develop symptoms.

He recalled: “I’d eaten at a buffet and the next morning I was in a terrible state. The symptoms were absolutely horrendous and I was completely out of it. It got to the point where after a few days I was severely dehydrated and totally incoherent – my family had to carry me to the medical centre.”

Darren was placed on a drip at the centre for more than seven hours and while he felt more hydrated he was still very unwell. With his wedding due to take place on July 17th, he felt there was no option but to postpone it for a couple of days.

He said: “I was totally and utterly devastated. This holiday was everything to me and to see it all go the way it did was awful – it was completely ruined.

“Postponing the wedding was a really tough decision and then when we went ahead with it on the 19th I felt so ill that I attended the ceremony, had photos taken and then went back to my room. I came back down to hear the speeches, but other than that the whole celebration passed me by.

“The illness then continued for a while when I came home too, so I couldn’t even get back to work when I was supposed to. The whole experience was an utter nightmare and I want to know why this was allowed to happen. We want answers.”

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