"Irwin Mitchell focuses largely on handling personal injury work in the transport field. It ‘obtains the best, but most realistic outcomes’ and can draw on ‘lawyers qualified in many countries within the EU, the US and Asia’. Clive Garner is ‘extremely capable and intelligent, with great forensic skills."
Legal 500 - Transport (2011)
Children Struck Down By Gastric Illness In Lanzarote
Published date:
05 Jul 2010
Travel lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are demanding a review in hygiene standards after two young boys were struck down by gastric illness at the Hotetur Lanzarote Bay Hotel.
The Rushforth family from West Yorkshire travelled to the Hotetur Lanzarote Bay in May. Sadly their holiday was ruined when Oliver, 7, and Oscar, 4, developed gastric illness.
Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are now investigating a compensation claim on behalf of the family.
Seven-year-old Oliver was diagnosed with salmonella and campylobacter, while his brother Oscar also needed to go to hospital when they returned to the UK.
Jackie Rushforth, mother of the two boys said: “It was quite a scary time to have such young children being so ill while we were supposed to be enjoying our holiday.
“The condition around the areas where food was being served was poor. Birds were just landing on the tables and plates after people had left and started eating from the spoons. We also saw cockroaches running around.
“The adults ate at the restaurant which was buffet style, although this was also very poor. The food was often lukewarm, there was also chicken, pork, fish, pasta, vegetables and salad buffet, none of this was particularly well cooked or refrigerated.”
Environmental health officers have told Mrs Rushforth that the incubation period points to the hotel as being responsible for Oliver’s illnesses. Oliver started to complain of stomach cramps halfway through the holiday and then began to suffer from diarrhoea around every half an hour.
The family travelled to the Hotetur Lanzarote Bay with The Global Travel Group Plc and lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have now called on the tour operator to improve standards.
David Sumner from the law firm said: “The experiences described by the Rushforths are just unacceptable. Sadly tour operators are continuing to send people to hotels that fall short of health and safety guidelines that are put in place to protect the public from illness.”
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