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Kuoni denies liability for couple’s Zanzibar holiday food poisoning (23 March 2015)

Date: 23/03/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Kuoni denies liability for couple’s Zanzibar holiday food poisoning

A couple who fell ill with symptoms of holiday food poisoning while staying at a luxury hotel in Zanzibar are taking legal action against tour operator Kuoni.

Angela Swann and Andrew Smith say they developed symptoms of holiday food poisoning in March 2014, while staying the at luxury hotel the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort and Spa in Zanzibar, Africa. The trip was part of Kuoni’s Serengeti Skies tour.

Local publisher The Chronicle reports the couple paid £13,500 for a week’s stay at the all-inclusive resort. However, they developed severe symptoms of food poisoning, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and nausea. Ms Swann – a nurse – is still taking antibiotics a year later. The couple say their holiday was ruined and they were at one point confined to their rooms for three days.

“We just couldn’t keep anything down – we just thought it was a 24-hour bug,” said Ms Swann.

“But as soon as we were eating, we had to go back to the villa – we were just very ill and weak.

“It totally ruined the holiday of a lifetime – we both came back suffering from really bad symptoms and it’s left us with an illness we have never had before.”

Holiday food poisoning bugs such as campylobacter, salmonella, E.coli and cryptosporidium can result in secondary post-infective conditions such as Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

Mr Smith – who works as a service manager for Mercedes Benz – and Ms Swann self-medicated for their symptoms with antibiotics they had taken on holiday with them as a precaution.

When they returned to the UK, Ms Swann saw a private medical specialist – and also had blood tests and an ultrasound scan because of the severity of her ongoing symptoms.

A year after the holiday, she is still suffering from symptoms and feels unwell.

“This was supposed to be a holiday of a lifetime which we would treasure forever, but sadly when we look back now we only think of the turmoil we’ve been through,” she said.

Ms Swann alleges that food at the resort hotel was not properly cooked and did not always appear fresh.

“I was not happy about some of the food served as on occasions – it was undercooked and I had to send it back.

“Also, sometimes some of the food served did not appear fresh – and some of the food on occasions did not appear hot enough.

“Following falling ill, our holiday was ruined – and was utterly embarrassing to say the least.

“Now, we just want answers as to why we fell ill, so that we can begin to move on from what we’ve been through.”

Kuoni denies liability for the couple’s illness and is investigating the circumstances.

A spokesman for Kuoni said:

“Kuoni take any claims surrounding the health and wellbeing of our customers very seriously indeed.

“We are aware of this case – which is currently with our legal team and continues to be under investigation – so it would be inappropriate to comment further on this particular incident at this stage.”

The couple have contacted lawyers who are investigating their claims for holiday food poisoning compensation.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no Fee Holiday Illness and Accident Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of no win no fee holiday food poisoning solicitors, able to advise holidaymakers on package holidays or dynamic packages who have fallen ill as a result of poor food preparation or lapses in hygiene on how to make a claim for holiday illness compensation.

Package holidays and holidays booked as dynamic packages – where the components are booked separately but through the same agent (eg flight and hotel) will have an ATOL certificate issued at the time of booking.

Holidaymakers have three years in which to make a claim under the Package Travel Regulations 1992 – and children can claim for compensation up to the age of 21.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Holiday Illness and Accident Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
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