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Illness Victim Of Spanish Hotel ‘Disgusted’ To Hear Of Further Outbreak
Published date:
07 May 2010
A woman who fell so ill on holiday at a Spanish hotel with a history of sickness outbreaks that she needed hospital treatment has expressed her dismay after hearing reports that guests at the same hotel are again being affected by illness.
The latest reported outbreak of illness comes at the Beach Club Hotel in Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol, which was at the heart of a pay out of several million pounds to over 950 British holidaymakers who took legal action following outbreaks of Salmonella and other illness at the resort between 2000 and 2002.
And the news has also dismayed travel law experts at Irwin Mitchell, who represented the previous holidaymakers in their successful legal bid and continues to represent nearly 90 other unfortunate Brits who suffered illness while staying at the hotel in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Reports on internet review sites indicate that the latest victims of illness at the hotel are several British holidaymakers who were forced to stay at the hotel after being stranded in Spain when flights were cancelled because of volcanic ash, with many holidaymakers have reported lukewarm and undercooked food being served in the hotel’s restaurant.
One person was reported to have been hospitalised due to the severity of his illness. Another holidaymaker reported purchasing medication from a local chemist, who said that 25 people from the hotel had come in the previous day all complaining of gastric illness.
And the news was greeted with dismay by Paula Mayne, 58, who needed hospital treatment after collapsing at the Costa del Sol hotel in 2007.
Ms Mayne, from Hinckley in Leicestershire, said: "I am disgusted that this problem is still going on at the Beach Club Hotel. I went there in 2007 and ended up having to go to hospital after I collapsed.
“Why does this problem have to continue year and year? I would have thought that they would have sorted it out by now. It is shameful that people are being sent to this hotel and having their holidays completely ruined as a result."
To date, Irwin Mitchell has successfully represented over 1,000 holidaymakers who stayed at the hotel between 1999 and 2006, winning payouts from tour operators totalling over £2.5m.
And the firm’s Head of the Travel Law, Clive Garner, said: "This hotel has a disturbing history. Over recent years, we have been formally instructed by around 1,100 guests to take legal action after suffering illness while staying there. Some of our clients still continue to suffer illness today and the total number of guests who became ill at the Beach Club is likely to be far higher than this.
"Although the levels of complaints have varied from time to time, and certainly many lucky holidaymakers have enjoyed an illness free stay there, this is little comfort to the hundreds who have suffered serious illness, sometimes with long term consequences. All reasonable action should be taken by hotel management and tour operators to ensure that hotels are safe for all of their guests.
“Hundreds of past guests have suffered serious illness including Salmonella as a result of staying at this hotel. It is a matter of real concern that we are now hearing reports of yet more illness amongst recent guests. With the present level of reported complaints we anticipate many other guests who stayed at the Beach Club Torremolinos will instruct us to pursue claims for damages on their behalf.”
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