Lawyers investigate illness at First Choice holiday village
TUI is facing legal action from a man who was hospitalised during a stay at the First Choice Holiday Village in Sarigerme, Turkey.
Mark Swannell, 46, from West Yorkshire, was a few days into a holiday with his family at the resort when he fell seriously ill with diarrhoea, nausea and stomach pain.
The hotel’s doctor was called and Mr Swannell was taken to hospital, where he stayed for the rest of his October trip.
In a report in the Daily Mail, he complained of uncooked food and finding blood in a chicken dish.
He also claimed reps at the hotel did not ask his wife how he was or show any interest in his welfare.
An outbreak of gastric illness at the same hotel in 2009 affected 595 people and led to £1.7m being paid in compensation.
After being contacted by the family, law firm Irwin Mitchell has begun an investigation.
It is appealing for anyone else who travelled to the resort last year to get in contact.
A spokesman for TUI confirmed it continues to feature the resort in its First Choice programme.
"We are sorry to hear of the Swannell’s experience at the Holiday Village Turkey in October," he said.
"First Choice closely audits all resorts to which we operate to ensure that health, hygiene and comfort levels are maintained in line with industry standards.
"As this case is now subject to legal proceedings it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."
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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