A girl of 12 was struck down with food poisoning during a family holiday to a luxury five-star resort in Egypt. Evie Hopkin was pictured hooked up to an IV drip at a medical centre at the TUI Blue Sensatori Coral Sea in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Her family say she was twice taken to the on-site facility during their dream trip last month after suffering from stomach cramps, diarrhoea and a fever. She later began to vomit and was given antibiotics and intravenous fluids due to dehydration.
Evie remained unwell and very lethargic for the rest of the holiday. Mum Debbie, 47, said: “It was awful seeing Evie so poorly and knowing there was nothing I could do to make her better.
“At first we hoped it was something minor and it would pass, but then we started hearing about other people who had been ill. When Evie was receiving treatment at the clinic, there were other guests hooked up to IV drips and that’s when we realised how serious it was
“What was meant to be a dream holiday turned into a complete nightmare. We tried to make the most of the last few days but it was unfortunately ruined.”
Evie was diagnosed with salmonella by her GP after the family returned home to Bradford, West Yorks. They have now instructed lawyers to investigate their case.
Debbie, a legal secretary, added: “I can’t change what happened or go back and make a different decision about our holiday destination, but what we can do now is try to understand how this happened and get some answers for Evie, it’s the least she deserves.”
Law firm Irwin Mitchell say the family are one of a group of 20 holidaymakers that have instructed them to investigate after they too became ill at the resort, having booked through tour operator Tui, although Tui say they haven’t received 20 claims relating to the hotel.
And they say it comes after they previously acted for holidaymakers returning from the luxury resort suffering from serious illness in recent years.
Jennifer Hodgson, from the firm, said: “The first-hand accounts we’ve heard from those who have become unwell are deeply concerning.
“No one should return from a family holiday needing hospital treatment, facing ongoing symptoms and left with unanswered questions.
“The effects of gastric illness are serious and should never been downplayed. Those impacted can go on to develop long-term health issues and in some cases salmonella, can even prove fatal.
“While there’s nothing we can do to change what they’ve all been through, we’re determined to provide those affected with the answers they deserve. If any issues are identified, it’s vital that measures are put in place to help prevent others from falling ill in the future.”
Tui say more than 300,000 British customers have travelled to Egypt with the tour operator over the past 12 months and say they first heard about the family’s claims when we contacted them for comment.
A spokesman said: “We’re sorry to hear that Evie was unwell during her holiday and understand how upsetting that can be, particularly when you’re away from home. Our records show the customer reported feeling unwell during their stay and support was provided by both the hotel and TUI.
“While neither the family nor their representatives had contacted us about these claims since returning to the UK before the matter was raised by the media, we recognise how concerning any illness can be and we take all reports seriously.
“Following the alert from media, we are investigating the circumstances raised. We continue to monitor reports in line with our established procedures alongside the hotel, local health authorities and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). We have seen no evidence of an increase in reported illness at this hotel.
“We would always encourage customers to report illness while on holiday and to contact us if they receive a diagnosis or test results after returning home. This allows us to carry out a full and thorough investigation based on all available evidence.”
Tui also say that the hotel is not subject to any health or safety restrictions and continues to operate with all relevant approvals in place.