Family struck down by bug at 5-star Greek resort where guests ‘threw up in pool’
A British mum and her two daughters had their ‘special holiday’ in Greece ruined after the resort appeared to be struck by widespread illness.
Danielle Faulkner, from Newport in South Wales, traveled to a five star hotel and spa on the Greek island of Kefalonia with her two teenage daughters – but now she along with 34 other holidaymakers are demanding an investigation.
They were all struck down with gastric illness, and Danielle saw people vomiting in the hotel’s swimming pool, restaurant, and reception. She even saw rat droppings on sun loungers.
They arrived on July 16 but Danielle and youngest daughter Amelie, 15, fell ill on the second day of their week-long holiday. 17-year-old Isobel also fell ill a few days later.
It was the first time the family had been able to go on holiday together for five years, and they had to save up for the £3,000 trip, booked through a UK tour operator.
Danielle, 44, has a suppressed immune system due to being diagnosed with lupus. At one point she lost consciousness and she was given antibiotics and anti-sickness injections by the resort doctor.
She explained: ‘After the last few years and what everyone has been through with Covid and because we’ve not been away together as a family for so long, we felt we deserved a break.
‘My daughters have worked incredibly hard at school and have achieved amazing exam results.
‘We’d researched where to go for weeks and looked at various options. We chose the resort as it looked like everything we wanted.
‘We made sacrifices and saved hard for months to enjoy what we thought would be a special holiday on which we’d create memories together.
‘However, the enthusiasm and excitement we had about our holiday quickly vanished. On only the second day myself and Amelie were struck down.
‘It was awful. We couldn’t even keep down water down and in 40°C heat that was incredibly worrying. Amelie said that she’d never been so ill in her life.
‘To then make matters worse Isobel fell ill a few days after.
‘The holiday quickly went from what we hoped would be a dream trip to a disaster. What’s even more concerning is that we weren’t alone.
‘We saw other holidaymakers being sick in front of the other guests and others were complaining about hygiene standards.
‘The last thing you expect when you book a five-star luxury holiday is for it to be wiped out by illness. I wish we’d never have booked the holiday.’
Danielle is part of a group of 35 holidaymakers at the same resort who have instructed lawyers Irwin Mitchell to investigate.
Jatinder Paul, a specialist international injury lawyer at the firm, said: ‘We continue to be contacted by a growing number of people from across the UK who fell ill during holidays to this resort this summer.
‘What’s of particular concern is that multiple families are reporting suffering the same serious symptoms and in a short timeframe.
‘The ages of those affected range from one-year-old to 57.
‘Naturally Danielle, Amelie, Isobel and others we represent, want answers as to how they became so unwell on a five-star holiday.
‘We’re now investigating those concerns to provide them with the answers they deserve.
‘Gastric illness can lead to serious and long-term health complications and its impact should never be downplayed.
‘It’s vital that those with concerns about the resort are now supported
‘If during our investigations any issues are identified, action needs to be taken to reduce the risk of other holidaymakers falling ill in the future.’
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