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TUI to pay compensation for cruise liner illness (29 April 2014)

Date: 29/04/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, TUI to pay compensation for cruise liner illness

Passengers who fell on a cruise ship operated by travel giant TUI are to receive thousands of pounds in compensation.

Passengers on board the Island Escape cruise liner between December 2009 and June 2010 fell ill with symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea. The liner sailed to destinations such as Morocco, Gibraltar, Madeira and Las Palmas and around 100 passengers fell ill on board.

Passengers were not warned about the risk of illness on board the ship, however, before they set off on their cruise itineraries.

The Daily Mail reports that TUI has agreed to pay a “substantial” six-figure settlement to the passengers.

German-owned TUI is the parent company of some of the best-known tour operators in the UK, including Thomson and First Choice Holidays & Flights Limited and Sunshine Cruises Limited.

The companies all denied liability for the passengers’ illness, however.

The passengers suffered classic symptoms of severe holiday food poisoning, including stomach cramps, fever, vomiting and violent episodes of diarrhoea. Some of the passengers say that, four years after their cruise, they are still suffering the symptoms.

Severe cases of sickness and diarrhoea are often caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic gastric infections, such as Salmonella, Norovirus or Cryptosporidium.

If undiagnosed and untreated, the infection can remain in the body – Salmonella symptom may recede only to return with renewed virulence some weeks later. Profuse or prolonged episodes of diarrhoea can lead to post-infective conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease.

In certain densely populated communities – such as cruise ships, holiday complexes, schools and nursing homes – gastrointestinal infections can spread rapidly if there are lapses in food preparation and general hygiene, including failing to wash hands after using the lavatory.

The 100 passengers on board the TUI cruise liners are expected to receive around £10,000 in compensation each.

Around 117 passengers who fell on board the cruise liner between 2012 and 2013 are still fighting for compensation.

TUI has not commented on the settlement agreed with the first 100 Island Escape passengers.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Holiday Accident & Illness Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise holidaymakers who suffer injury or illness on a package holiday how to make a no win no fee claim.

There are several pieces of legislation which can be make to make a claim for holiday accidents or illness such slips and falls or holiday food poisoning, including:

• Package Travel Regulations 1992 (package holidays)
• Athens Convention (travel on ships)
• Montreal Convention (air travel).

Holidaymakers who wish to claim compensation for accident or illness on a package holiday as a result of another party’s negligence usually have three years in which to claim.

For expert legal advice on making no win no fee compensation claims for Holiday Accidents & Illness, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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