Family Wants Answers After Son With Autism Also Falls Ill During Holiday

An Essex woman has called on legal experts for help after a special five-star family break at an Egyptian holiday resort was ruined when gastric illness left her needing a drip and medication.

Julie Malin, 51, from Halstead in Essex, started to suffer from problems including severe diarrhoea days into her two-week stay at the Desert Rose Resort in Hurghada, Egypt, with her family including her husband Shane, 55, and their son Ellis, 14.  The 14-year-old, who has autism, also fell ill with similar symptoms.

The holiday was booked to allow the family to get away from the stresses of their daily routine but the break ended up being ruined due to illness with the family reporting that food at the hotel appeared to be left in the buffet areas uncovered for long periods of time and food often being served lukewarm.

The illness proved so severe for Julie that by the third day of her illness she was given injections by the on-site doctor. She then went on to require a drip and further support to address concerns regarding her blood pressure and the risk that she was told she may have suffered a stroke. On her return to the UK she was diagnosed with a kidney infection.

Following the problems, and upon their return to the UK, Julie and her family have instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team to investigate the issues they faced during the holiday and whether more could have been done to prevent them from falling ill.

The team has also notably been instructed by over 45 holidaymakers who suffered serious bacterial illnesses following stays at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic, also in Hurghada, where Mr and Mrs Cooper died suddenly. Egyptian authorities said they died as a result of contracting of E. Coli. In addition, the team has recently been instructed by the family Luay Mohammed, a seven-year old boy who was diagnosed with salmonella and required intensive care as a result of sepsis, and a suspected stroke upon his return from the Tia Heights Hotel, also in Hurghada, Egypt.

Expert Opinion

“We are hugely concerned by the information Julie and her family have provided us following their stay at the Desert Rose and have now commenced our own investigations into what the family faced.

“As part of our investigations we would like to hear from other holidaymakers who may have information about conditions at the Desert Rose this summer.

“This is sadly yet another case from this summer relating to a hotel in the Hurghada beach resort in Egypt where complications have arisen as a result of gastric illness which highlights why these issues need to be treated seriously, as such problems can go on to have a significant impact on the health of those affected, sometimes long after a holiday has finished.

“Tour operators and holiday resorts have an important responsibility when it comes to the health and safety of holidaymakers and we are now working to determine whether this case, and in others where we have been instructed recently, highlights any key issues from which lessons can be learned.” Jatinder Paul - Partner

Julie and her family’s stay at the Desert Rose, which was booked through Holiday Gems Limited, began on 20 June this year and some days after their arrival at the hotel she was the first to develop illness. Her son, Ellis, then became poorly with diarrhoea, abdominal pains and vomiting and this meant that Ellis could not go on a diving expedition which he had long been looking forward to.

Julie, a housewife, recalled: “We had been looking forward to this holiday for such a long time. Ellis is autistic so the trip was meant to be a chance for some respite and also an opportunity for him to try diving. However, the illness we suffered turned all of our plans upside down.

“The symptoms were absolutely horrendous and I knew I would need to see a doctor. Needing medication and a drip is simply something you never expect to happen to you during a holiday, but then I was told about concerns with my blood pressure and that I was at risk of a stroke.

“The whole holiday was written off by my illness and poor Ellis never got his chance to go diving. He also fell ill towards the end of the break and was diagnosed with gastroenteritis too. To make matters even worse our flight home was delayed by 24 hours.

“Everything we have been through has been so frustrating and we deserve some answers about why were sent to this hotel. I wouldn’t wish what I’ve been through on my worst enemy.”

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling holiday illness cases.