Legal News

Tour operator Thomas Cook has paid out £8,500 to two British couples who fell ill with food poisoning symptoms at the all-inclusive Sentido Perissia resort hotel in Turkey.

Keith and Karen Jennings and David and Karen Martin from Liverpool fell ill with acute gastroenteritis, as they celebrated Mrs Martin’s birthday at the luxurious Sentido Perissia resort in the holiday destination Side.

The Daily Mail reports that Mr Jennings was so ill that he was bedridden for three days and unable to return home as scheduled as he was unfit to fly.

He developed severe symptoms of diarrhoea with stomach cramps just days into the holiday last September – and was referred to a local hospital for treatment, before being confined to his room at the resort.

There was no doctor present at the hotel when Mr Jennings became ill, as the hotel doctor did not work on Sundays.

“The hotel was unable to contact him or any other doctor, so I was referred to the hospital,” said Mr Jennings.

“I was placed on a drip for nine hours as I was severely dehydrated,” he added.

Mrs Jennings said:

“We had to book an extra night at the hotel we were staying, as my husband was not fit to fly and we were left devastated.

“After eight previous uneventful trips to Turkey, we shall not be returning.”


Mrs Martin said that guests at the resort hotel noticed that standards of hygiene and food preparation were poor.

“The hotel staff were putting out breakfast in the restaurant at 2am – this means that the food had been lying there for at least eight hours,” Mrs Martin said.

“The restaurant was infested with flies and they were crawling all over the fresh fruit.”

Flies can transmit bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli if they are allowed to access buffets or food in storage.


After taking legal advice on claiming holiday illness compensation, Thomas Cook agreed to pay the two couples £8,460.

A spokesman for the tour operator said:

“Thomas Cook is sorry that Mr and Mrs Jennings and Mr and Mrs Martin fell ill while on holiday at the Sentido Perissia in Turkey in September 2014.

“Thomas Cook takes health and hygiene issues very seriously – and maintaining the safety of our customers is our number one priority.

“We are pleased to confirm we have reached an agreement with both couples’ legal representatives and that this matter is now resolved.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Lawyers – No win no fee Holiday Illness Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise holidaymakers who fall ill as a result of poor hygiene or food preparation standards on package holidays on how to make a no win no claim for holiday illness compensation under the 1992 Package Travel Regulations.

Personal injury claims have to be made within three years of the date of illness or diagnosis of holiday illness – and children can claim holiday illness compensation up to the age of 21.

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