UK Health Security Agency investigating illnesses at Turkish resort
EXCLUSIVE: UK Health Security Agency investigating reports of illness at five-star Turkish resort as more than 100 holidaymakers threaten legal action against TUI with at least fourteen food poisoning cases
- Brits staying at the Rixos Sungate Hotel have tested positive for food poisoning
- More than 100 who have stayed there since March are now instructing lawyers
The government’s public health body is investigating sickness among British families who stayed at a five-star hotel in Turkey, as it’s revealed that more than 100 holidaymakers are threatening legal action against tour operator TUI.
Fourteen families who recently returned from the Rixos Sungate Hotel in Antalya have tested positive for salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter, their lawyers said. Further guests have also confirmed cases of food poisoning to MailOnline.
Many who have suffered horrific symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting have shared their stories with MailOnline in recent weeks, and now the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed it is looking into the cause of their illnesses.
Guests have reported food being left uncovered at buffet restaurants, fresh food being piled on top of old servings, dirty tables, plates and cutlery, and also shared images of what they say is undercooked food being served at a hotel restaurant.
It comes after TUI last week said that food poisoning was not confirmed at the hotel and that the illnesses were thought to be norovirus. Accor Group, which runs the all-inclusive resort, has made no attempt to respond to the allegations.
![Dominic Brackley from Leighton Buzzard tested positive for salmonella after staying at the resort. He is pictured with his daughter, Blythe, who was on an IV drip at the hotel's clinic](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/17/18/71962963-12186619-Dominic_Brackley_from_Leighton_Buzzard_has_tested_positive_for_s-a-4_1687023820429.jpg)
Dominic Brackley from Leighton Buzzard tested positive for salmonella after staying at the resort. He is pictured with his daughter, Blythe, who was on an IV drip at the hotel’s clinic
![Jenny Hopkins' little girl was rushed to hospital and was put on at least nine IV drips, her mother says. The family are now seeking compensation](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/17/18/71660921-12186619-Jenny_Hopkins_little_girl_was_rushed_to_hospital_and_has_been_on-a-5_1687023826622.jpg)
Jenny Hopkins’ little girl was rushed to hospital and was put on at least nine IV drips, her mother says. The family are now seeking compensation
![The Rixos Sungate (pictured) is a five-star rated resort in Turkey where families spend as much as £5,000 on TUI package holidays](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/17/18/71702813-12186619-The_Rixos_Sungate_pictured_is_a_five_star_rated_resort_in_Turkey-a-6_1687023948385.jpg)
The Rixos Sungate (pictured) is a five-star rated resort in Turkey where families spend as much as £5,000 on TUI package holidays
Guest Dominic Brackley, who is from Leighton Buzzard, tested positive for salmonella when he came back from a holiday at the luxury resort two weeks ago.
During the nightmare stay his two young daughters, aged six and nine, had to be put on IV drips as they were so unwell.
He said the first night his youngest daughter had the illness he ‘thought she was dying she was so bad’.
Vdara, six, became unwell on May 30, a few days after the family arrived at the resort, and was soon taken into the hotel’s clinic and put on an IV drip.
The dad said he ‘then spent the next five nights watching her sleep, making sure I could see her tummy move.’
Dominic’s nine-year-old, Blythe, was also unwell and had to be put on a drip in Turkey.
He went to his GP at home and tested positive for salmonella, with the whole family experiencing the same horrible symptoms.
He said his holiday cost him a total of £4,700 and that he has now added his name to the lawsuit.
Dominic also shared a picture from another guest of what he says was an undercooked burger at the kids’ restaurant in the resort.
Multiple guests have said they suspect their sickness began after eating food at the hotel’s restaurants, with a number blaming egg-based desserts.
Jenny Hopkins, whose young daughter was unwell during their stay at Rixos Sungate, said she is considering legal action after asking TUI to refund their holiday.
‘We did ask TUI to cover the cost of the holiday, which would have been £5,400, which fell on deaf ears,’ she said.
![Dominic with his partner and daughter Vdara in the clinic at the Rixos Sungate Resort in Turkey](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/17/18/71962965-12186619-Dominic_with_his_partner_and_daughter_Vdara_in_the_clinic_at_the-a-7_1687023952013.jpg)
Dominic with his partner and daughter Vdara in the clinic at the Rixos Sungate Resort in Turkey
During their holiday, Jenny says her eight-year-old daughter was passing green diarrhoea and became so dehydrated she began ‘fitting’.
She spent days on IV drips and the family were forced to fork out over £3,000 in medical bills.
The mother-of-two said her daughter was unable to go back to school for over two weeks as she was too drained, and that she herself still has an upset tummy after they fell ill around May 30.
But, she said, both of their tests came back negative for salmonella, which she ‘couldn’t believe’.
Another guest, Holly Laird, from Essex, said her husband Ant was suffering from ‘sickness, diarrhoea, fever and dizziness’ since eating at the hotel’s buffet, and had to be hospitalised.
After his sickness worsened, she said, she took him to the Medical Park Hospital, where she says doctors confirmed to her that he has a ‘serious infection – food poisoning’.
![Dominic shared a picture of what he says was an undercooked burger at the kids' restaurant in the resort](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/17/18/72249725-12186619-image-a-10_1687024682678.jpg)
Dominic shared a picture of what he says was an undercooked burger at the kids’ restaurant in the resort
Now Holly has said they are ‘100 per cent’ considering legal action and that they ‘need compensation for this absolute disgrace of a mess’.
Katie Harrington’s husband James also fell ill while staying at the resort, and was unable to move or eat, suffering from kidney pain, a fever and diarrhoea.
He was put on two drips in the hotel’s clinic and prescribed numerous antibiotics, and has since tested positive for salmonella.
Families staying at the hotel first began reporting sickness during the Easter holidays, when law firm Irwin Mitchell said they had been approached by ‘dozens’ of holidaymakers.
The law firm is now representing more than 100 tourists who stayed at the resort between March 30 and June 8, and is liasing with public health bodies as part of its investigation.
![Vdara, 6, became unwell on May 30, a few days after the family arrived at the resort, and was soon taken into the hotel's clinic and put on an IV drip](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/17/18/71962967-12186619-Vdara_6_became_unwell_on_May_30_a_few_days_after_the_family_arri-a-8_1687023957182.jpg)
Vdara, 6, became unwell on May 30, a few days after the family arrived at the resort, and was soon taken into the hotel’s clinic and put on an IV drip
Jatinder Paul, an international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: ‘To hear of the number of families being struck down by illness, and their reports of the health and hygiene standards at this hotel, is concerning and definitely not something you expect from a five-star resort.
‘We’re currently instructed by more than 100 holidaymakers who have stayed at the Rixos Sungate over the last few months and have suffered from gastric illness. We’re now investigating how they became so unwell.’
Dr Lesley Larkin, Head of Surveillance, Gastrointestinal Pathogens and Food Safety (One Health) Division at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said last week:
‘The UKHSA is investigating of reports of holidaymakers returning from Turkey with possible food poisoning symptoms. If you have recently returned from Turkey and are concerned about any health symptoms, please contact your GP or contact NHS 111.
‘If you are experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting, make sure to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet and before eating or touching food.
‘Please avoid returning to work or sending unwell children to school or nursery until at least 48 hours after symptoms have cleared and where possible try to not prepare food for others during this time either.’
Accor and Rixos have been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for TUI said: ‘We were very concerned to hear of small number cases at Rixos Sungate in Turkey, as the health and safety of our customers is our highest priority.
‘As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to comment on the specific cases.’