Brit children left ‘bloody and limping’ on all-inclusive Turkey vacation after ‘explosion’
Two brothers were left covered in cuts after a steam room door suddenly shattered at their Turkish hotel, with Jet2Holidays later paying £7,000 compensation following a legal claim
Two brothers were left riddled with cuts after a steam room door abruptly exploded while they were on a package holiday in Turkey.
The lads, aged 16 and 11 at the time, were holidaying with their parents at the five-star Green Nature Diamond Hotel in Marmaris, Dalaman, on the second to last day of their 10-day break. CCTV footage captured the moment the glass door exploded outwards as the youngsters exited the steam room.
Both sustained cuts to their feet, legs and arms and received treatment from a doctor at the hotel. Jet2Holidays initially refused to accept responsibility for the incident but later agreed to compensate the family £7,000 following a legal claim.
Before the boys came out of the steam room at their hotel(Image: Jam Press/Hudgell Solicitors)
The boys’ father, from Harrogate, North Yorks, who wished to remain anonymous, said the family had been in their hotel room when the older lad returned from the spa, as reported by NeedToKnow.
He stated: “We were in the hotel room when the eldest burst into the room. He was limping, and there was blood everywhere. When we got down there, it just looked like carnage.
“The door had exploded, and there was blood and glass all over the place. Luckily, there was a doctor on site, and he managed to patch them up, but I wanted answers, and the manager was nowhere to be seen.
The boys began making their way out of the room before the shock of their lives(Image: Jam Press/Hudgell Solicitors)
“There were no apologies, no nothing. When I got to see the CCTV when we were still on holiday, the first thing the receptionist did was put the USB stick in her pocket and said I couldn’t have it.
“I didn’t know what to do. I got hold of the British Embassy in Turkey, and this woman jumped in a taxi and came to get the footage. But then the hotel said she couldn’t have it unless she was with the police.
“But then she came back with a police officer, and they still wouldn’t hand it over. So, I did a bit of research, and I told them it was my data, it was my children, and there was no one else in the footage, so you need to send it to us.
Footage clearly shows some kind of explosion has occurred(Image: Jam Press/Hudgell Solicitors)
“Eventually it arrived, but it came after 10 months of pushing and pushing and pushing. I’m glad it did, though, because I’m 100% certain that massively helped us in the process.”
He asserts that the incident continued to impact the family long after they returned home. The father added: “It was scary, and we didn’t go on a package holiday for four years because of what happened, and the kids are still concerned about going through glass doors. You trust your tour operator to keep you safe. Jet2Holidays let us down.”
Hudgell Solicitors initiated a damages claim on behalf of the family, with representatives for Jet2Holidays initially denying responsibility for the accident and the injuries sustained abroad. After the father finally obtained the CCTV footage, Jet2Holidays’ legal representatives agreed to a combined compensation package of £7,000.
The boys try to rush out of the room while covered in blood and cuts(Image: Jam Press/Hudgell Solicitors)
Anne Thomson, a senior litigation executive at Hudgell Solicitors and an expert in accidents abroad, said: “The two boys suffered mild injuries, but this must have been a terrifying experience that stayed with them for a long time. The CCTV footage makes for especially uncomfortable viewing and underscores just how fortunate the brothers were to have avoided serious injury.
“We were disappointed with Jet2Holidays’ lackadaisical approach to genuine demand for answers, just as we were with the hotel’s baffling decision to not surrender the footage for so long. Under ‘2018 Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations’, it is implied that Jet2 exercise reasonable care and skill, not least by ensuring the safety and well-being of their customers.
“This did not happen. They eventually made a satisfactory out-of-court settlement, but we hope lessons have been learned to ensure potentially frightful incidents like this are eradicated in hotels with which they are associated.”
The family stated that the incident also altered their perspective on holidaying abroad. The father added: “I can’t thank Anne enough. She kept going and going and going and continually kept reassuring me that this wouldn’t be going to court.
“I didn’t have a clue what to do about making a claim with something like this, but Anne made everything very straightforward. What happened to my lads has hopefully helped raise awareness that big companies like Jet2 need to be held accountable when they are in the wrong. They might try to delay and get away with it, but the truth always comes out.”
Jet2Holidays stated: “We would like to reiterate how sorry we are about this incident.” The firm further noted that it had arrived at a settlement concerning an incident which took place in 2022.
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