26 August 2008

Raided couple to sue First Choice

A couple who were robbed in their beds during a First Choice holiday in the Dominican Republic are to sue the operator.

Chris and Winifred Hyde from north Wales plan to hit First Choice for a six figure sum after Mrs Hyde was pistol whipped during a two man raid on their ground floor apartment at the Gran Bahia Principe hotel in Punta Cana.

The men held a stiletto to Mr HydeÃ¢â¬â¢s throat and threatened to cut off his wifeÃ¢â¬â¢s fingers in order to steal her rings. The safe was raided and the Hydes believed they would be killed as the men had not made any attempt to hide their faces.

After the raid, the couple say they had to wait for two hours for security to arrive at reception followed by the rep and the police.

Now they are suing on the grounds that First Choice failed to provide adequate security during their holiday last summer.

First Choice says it cannot comment as legal action is underway.

By Dinah Hatch

Post your comment

Your Comments (2)

It's a third world country......

This was not just a website but a First Choice I T package with rooms block booked to First Choice and no doubt a First Choice flight as well, plus the advertised services of a local rep. The hotel and tour operators do jointly owe a duty of care to their I.T. guests and I would expect the hotel to have its own visible security arrangements in place. Travellers should note this is a third world country with few resources outside of the hotel complex and high levels of extreme poverty. As for taking two hours to respond, I was told in Norfolk, England that a 999 or 911 call would take some 45 minutes as there were few cars available...

By JULIAN BRAY MCIPR, NUJ, MMC, Wednesday, August 27, 2008
incredible

I sympathise with these people for what have been an horrific ordeal. But if this happened in the UK would we hold the website we booked the hotel through responsible or try to sue the police? I think not. Let's hope a judge finds the same or tour operators will need to add "personal security advisor" to their long list of skills.

By Alexander Carraro, Wednesday, August 27, 2008