TUI pays six-figure settlement in E-Coli case
TUI UK has been forced to pay a ‘substantial’ settlement out of court to a teenager who became seriously ill while on a First Choice holiday in Turkey.
The settlement, believed to be in six figures, was paid just four weeks before a trial was due to begin.
The youngster contracted a potentially fatal strain of E-Coli and the Giardia parasite while staying with his family at the Holiday Village Turkey in Sarigerme in October 2010.
Irwin Mitchell, which handled his case, also represented 26 other holidaymakers who were ill at the same hotel in the same year and these claims were settled in 2012.
The law firm has now represented hundreds of holidaymakers staying at the notorious resort at different times over the past decade.
The resort has alse been featured on BBC’s Watchdog programme.
In the case of Bradie Perkins, from Leicester, now 18, medical experts said his kidneys were so badly damaged by the illness that they could fail in the future.
Under the terms of the settlement, he will be entitled to seek further compensation if his kidneys fail.
TUI UK settled out of court after it was alleged that food hygiene failures had caused the illness.
The teenager had felt lethargic and tired during the last few days and on his return home had to be rushed to A&E twice because of severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, dehydration and other gastric symptoms.
Jatinder Paul, an associate solicitor who was part of the legal team, said: "I hope all tour operators will take note of this case and recognise the serious impact that gastric holiday illness can have, particularly on young people."
Bradie had travelled to Turkey with father Craig, 43, mother Michelle, 39, and his two younger sisters Madison and Betsy.
The family claimed food from previous meals was often re-used the next day and cold food was occasionally topped up with hot food.
Food was sometimes undercooked and often left uncovered while flies, insects and cats were frequently seen in the restaurant.
There were also instances where the pool was closed due to children defecating in the water but the family never saw the pool drained and re-filled.
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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