MORE than 400 holidaymakers have started legal action against Tui after being struck down by a crippling sickness bug in Mexico.
Tui, one of the world’s largest holiday operators, is accused of failing to pass on Public Health England warnings to travellers about cyclospora – a bug that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
Holidaymakers blamed the horrific sick bug for ruining their trips, which included honeymoons.
UK travel operators were told by the Association of British Travel Agents in July and August 2016 that people should be notified before travelling to Mexico about the outbreak of cyclospora.
However, Simpson Millar, a law firm representing the tourists, said none of its clients were told about the dangerous parasite before they booked a trip.
Other holidaymakers claimed they were handed a warning letter only after their plane touched down in Mexico.
I have never been so ill in my life. It was horrendous, the worst holiday ever. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy
British tourist Chris Gillan
Tourist Chris Gillan is one of the hundreds of holidaymakers taking legal action against Tui.
The self-employed engineer, from Hertfordshire, paid £3,000 for a romantic getaway with his Marisa to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary – but it quickly turned into a nightmare.
Chris became so weak he feared he might die and had to be stretchered from his room to hospital when he was hit by the cyclospora bug.
He said: “I have never been so ill in my life. It was horrendous, the worst holiday ever. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
“It’s the worst I have ever felt. I have never complained in my life about a holiday but this was awful.”
Chris said he experienced “excruciating” stomach pains and vomited up blood after being struck down with the bug.
‘IT WAS AWFUL’
Joanna Hodges, 41, a Cardiff librarian, booked a £5,000 trip with her husband, David, 56, a construction site manager. In the second week they both fell ill.
She said: “We booked the holiday online with Tui and knew nothing about Public Health England’s warnings.
“I suffer from multiple sclerosis and was struggling to keep my tablets down. My husband got the sickness as well and we were both very ill.
“There were many others at the hotel who were sick and disappearing up to their rooms for days. It was awful.”
I can honestly say it’s the most sick I’ve ever been in my life
Holidaymaker Kevin Mayo
The Sunday Times reported that at one hotel, the Grand Sirenis Resort and Spa in Cancun, almost 200 Tui customers became extremely sick in 2016 with symptoms similar to cyclospora.
Many other hotels were affected, including the Sensatori Resort in Riviera Maya with 95 victims.
Have you been affected? If so please contact thomas.burrows@thesun.co.uk
Tourist Kevin Mayo, 55, a builder and plasterer, booked a £3,500 trip to Cancun with his partner Karen, 51, in 2016.
He told the newspaper: “I fell ill on the second night after eating a salad. I can honestly say it’s the most sick I’ve ever been in my life.
“I was there two weeks and hospitalised. When I got home I couldn’t work for six weeks.”
Nick Harris, head of travel law at Simpson Millar, said the failure to alert tourists to the health warning was wrong.
Tui said it would be inappropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings, adding: “It is important to note that the number of customers who reported any sickness during their stay make up less than 1% of the total customers who stayed in these resorts during the 10-month period.”
Getty – Contributor
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