First Choice faces legal threat after dozens of guests fall ill
First Choice is facing the threat of legal action after at least 50 holidaymakers staying at a Red Sea holiday resort came down with alleged food poisoning.
They were all staying at the four-star Coral Sea Waterworld in Sharm el Sheikh when they fell ill. Some claim they were so poorly they were confined to their hotel rooms on intravenous drips.
Law firm Simpson Millar told the Daily Mirror that it had 50 cases of the illness reported to them by hotel guests in the last 24 hours and it suspected there might be up to 100 cases.
According to the travel review site TripAdvisor, cases of sickness at the hotel started as early as July 17.
Some of the latest victims have been diagnosed with Shigella – a bug commonly associated with food poisoning and poor hygiene – according to newspaper reports.
First Choice released the following statement: "We are aware of a small number of cases of sickness at the hotel in Egypt with symptoms similar to a virus.
"Our overseas Holiday Advisors have been assisting any customers reporting sickness at the hotel and they have been offering them appropriate support and advice.
"Reported cases of sickness have reduced and an independent health and safety consultant has been undertaking a thorough investigation.
"We would like to reassure customers that we closely audit all the resorts to which we operate to ensure that health, hygiene and comfort levels are maintained."
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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