Lawyers instructed after man dies on Thomas Cook holiday in Cuba
Thomas Cook is facing possible legal action from the widow of a man who died after suffering serious gastric illness at the Playa Pesquero resort in Cuba.
Edward Jackson, known to his friends and family as Ted, died in a Cuban hospital at the age of 63 in February of this year after becoming ill at the all-inclusive hotel, which is still featured by Thomas Cook.
His widow, from Risca, Newport, has instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the cause of his illness and seek answers from the tour operator.
Susan, 61, who is registered blind and relied on Ted to care for her, travelled with him to the hotel in January.
She told lawyers she initially fell ill with symptoms of diarrhoea and stomach cramps during the first week of the two-week Cuban holiday.
Shortly afterwards, Ted began to suffer the same symptoms and was treated by the doctor at the hotel.
When Ted’s symptoms became worse he went to see the resort doctor again and was placed on a drip and given medication to reduce the pain.
The couple were transferred by ambulance to a local clinic, which Susan said was dilapidated and didn’t have the equipment needed to treat her husband properly.
Later that afternoon Ted was rushed to hospital in a second ambulance and he was given oxygen and placed on a drip.
When his symptoms continued to worsen, he was transferred to intensive care.
Susan was told he had suffered a heart attack and in the early hours of the following day she was told Ted had suffered two further heart attacks and had passed away.
According to Irwin Mitchell, the cause of Ted’s death was recorded as hypovolemic shock, diarrhoea and acute infective gastroenteritis.
Clare Pearson, an international personal injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Susan, said: "Sadly, this case illustrates all too clearly the serious complications gastric illnesses can have for some victims, as well as their families and friends.
"Susan has informed us of a number of serious concerns both of them had about the standards of the hotel, which she believes caused Ted’s initial illness.
"We have launched our own investigations into this tragic loss of life and we hope the tour operator Thomas Cook will do everything they possibly can to provide answers to Susan’s questions as well as reassurance."
A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: "We would like to express our sincere condolences to Mrs Jackson and her family for their sad loss. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and wellbeing of our customers and we are deeply saddened by Mr Jackson’s death.
"We routinely audit properties to ensure standards are met."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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