Birthday Getaway Ruined By Hotel Food Poisoning Outbreak in Kenya
23/11/2010
A British couple who saw their dream holiday in Kenya ruined by illness have approached travel law experts at Irwin Mitchell to help them with their holiday food poisoning claim.
Michael and Elizabeth Rodwell travelled to the Baobab Beach Resort, Kenya, in August 2010 as a celebration for Mrs Rodwell’s birthday but soon found that their celebration holiday had turned into a nightmare.
After arriving at the luxury resort, Mr and Mrs Rodwell began suffering from gastric illness, including vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, high temperature and fever. The couple continued to suffer from symptoms of gastric illness on their return to the UK. Tests conducted by their GP later found that they had both been exposed to Campylobacter bacteria. They were both referred to hospital for treatment.
Mr Rodwell said that he had been shocked by the conditions at the Baobab Beach Resort, claiming that the couple had regularly witnessed raw, uncovered food being served in the restaurant, damp rooms and faulty air conditioning. He called on the tour operator, Thomson, to improve safety standards for their guests.
"The list of problems felt endless – we were already unsatisfied with conditions at what was billed as a top-class resort, but when we fell ill it literally added injury to insult." he claimed.
"The room was soiled, unclean and damp – and my wife is asthmatic – and the air conditioning was faulty.
"The food offering was worse still – fish and meat was raw and uncooked, it was left uncovered for long periods and, as we found out to our cost, it carried dangerous bacteria that made us both very sick.
"I can’t believe that in this day and age, problems such as this are still occurring and I am very concerned that some hotels and tour operators are putting money before the health of holiday makers."
Clive Garner, head of travel law at Irwin Mitchell said: "Mr and Mrs Rodwell had gone away for what was supposedly an exclusive and high-quality break to celebrate a birthday – but have been left seriously ill and hospitalised. Lessons must be learnt urgently!
"The flagrant disregard that some hotels and tour operators continue to have for the health and safety of tourists never ceases to amaze me. Bearing in mind the seriousness of the issues reported we expect other guests who stayed at this resort may also have suffered severe illness.
"We call for urgent steps to be taken to improve standards at the Baobab Beach Resort. We also trust that Thomsons will now work with us to resolve our clients’ claims fairly and promptly."
Back to news