Couple hunt holiday compensation

A newlywed couple are among a group of more than 300 holidaymakers who have launched a legal bid for compensation after illness ruined their holidays in the sun. In August 2008, Paul Swannick, 30, and wife Tracy, 33, travelled with 27 family members and friends to the Holiday Village Turkey in Dalaman, where they planned to celebrate their marriage. However the couple and 24 of their guests were hit by severe gastric symptoms just three days after arrival. The unhappy couple became so ill that their wedding day holds nothing but bad memories and they can hardly bring themselves to look at the photos, they claim.

Lawyers acting for 337 holidaymakers, including 125 children, lodged papers at the High Court in Birmingham. They are seeking compensation from First Choice over problems at the resort in 2008. While 103 of the original 440 holidaymakers have accepted compensation from First Choice, the remaining 337 are taking legal action. They include 12 children and seven adults who contracted salmonella.

The Turkish hotel is offered exclusively to British holidaymakers by First Choice, which has already paid out more than £100,000 to 34 claimants who stayed at the hotel in 2005 and 2007. A spokeswoman for First Choice said: "First Choice would like to take this opportunity to assure all its customers that we closely audit all the resorts to which we operate, including the Holiday Village Turkey, to ensure that health, hygiene and comfort levels are maintained.”

IBB Solicitors has built a reputation for quality of service in pursuing compensation in cases involving accident, illness or death, including travel claims. If you would like advice on personal injury issues, you can contact a member of IBB's Personal Injury team, call us on 01895 207972 or email PI@ibblaw.co.uk.