Home to the 'crème de la crème of claimant lawyers'... an expert on all aspects of illness, personal injury and serious injury abroad.
Chambers and Partners Directory (2006)
British Family’s Bulgaria Holiday Ruined By Salmonella
Published date:
22 Jun 2009
A Leeds woman is to take legal action in a bid to recover compensation after her family holiday was ruined when she contracted salmonella at the Nessebar Mare Hotel in Bulgaria.
Jean Linstrum travelled to the Nessebar Mare with her husband, sister and two others in October, but became ill just days after arriving.
Mrs Linstrum, her husband and sister have now instructed travel law experts at Irwin Mitchell to take legal action against Thomas Cook, after describing their all inclusive holiday as a “complete nightmare”.
From the third day of the holiday Mrs Linstrum was unable to leave her room due to severe stomach cramps, diarrhoea and nausea.
On her return to the UK she was diagnosed with salmonella and forced to stay off work for over a month.
Mrs Linstrum said: “We'd been there three days when I fell ill and the symptoms became so bad that it was difficult to leave my room.
"As we had booked an all-inclusive deal, the hotel was the only place I had eaten and the food was a disappointment. Meat was often undercooked, meals were generally lukewarm at best. In the end, all but one of us suffered some form of illness.
"The entire holiday was ruined, not just for me but for my family as well. It was meant to be a nice break but it turned into a complete nightmare."
Amandeem Dhillon, a specialist travel lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “It is terrible that people are still suffering illnesses such as salmonella at hotels used by British tour operators, despite all the previous cases of food poisoning around the world and the clear need to apply stringent health and safety standards.
“From what we understand the Nessebar Mare hotel did not maintain adequate health and hygiene standards, particularly in relation to food storage and preparation.
“Out of the six members of the holiday party, five fell ill and this is unacceptable. We are pursuing compensation claims on behalf of Mrs Linstrum and her family against Thomas Cook and we hope that they will be resolved quickly.
“It is also crucial that lessons are learnt at this hotel to make sure that the health and safety of each holidaymaker is a priority.”
« Back
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and your team…Your professionalism, advice and guidance throughout the entire claim was invaluable to us.
Michael and Janice, Telford