Family sues Thomas Cook for daughter’s lost kidney
The family of a little girl who lost a kidney following an accident at a Thomas Cook resort is asking the tour operator for financial compensation for her injuries sustained 18 months ago.
Eight-year-old Heidi-Ray Noble Steeples allegdly fell off a slide in the play area of the Montebello Resort in Olu Deniz in Turkey and landed on a picket fence.
She was rushed to hospital where her kidney was removed, said the Daily Mail.
Her parents, from Tingley in West Yorkshire have instructed legal firm Irwin Mitchell to secure a settlement from Thomas Cook on her behalf, blaming the ‘poor positioning’ of the fence for their daughter’s injury in August 2012.
In a statement, Thomas Cook said: ‘The health and safety of our customers is always our primary concern, so we were naturally very concerned to hear about Miss Noble Steeples’ accident while on holiday with us.
"As we are in the process of liaising directly with the family’s legal representative in relation to this, we are unable to provide any further comment at this time."
The hotel allegedly removed the fence following the accident and put up a sign saying children should be supervised in the play area.
Thomas Cook added that it closely audits all of the hotels to which it operates, "to ensure that only the very highest health and hygiene standards are in place".
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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