Mother sues First Choice amid food poisoning allegations

Posted 27/09/2010

A woman from Greater Manchester has launched a personal injury claim against travel firm First Choice after enduring a holiday she described as “a nightmare”.

Paula Solomons of Urmston claims she returned from the £2,000 trip to a four-star hotel in Egypt this summer with food poisoning, the Manchester Evening News reports.

The 56-year-old mother, who booked the holiday to celebrate her wedding anniversary with husband Anthony, was told she had contracted salmonella after arriving back home feeling unwell.

Ms Solomons told the newspaper it took her two months to get over the illness, which she believes was caused by poor food hygiene standards at the resort in Hurghada.

She commented: “It was the worst holiday of my life. I felt like death.

“I am livid and appalled about what happened to me – the pain and suffering I went through.”

In June, the Eastern Daily Press reported that Norwich couple Francis and Beverley Mayes were in line for a sizeable personal injury payout after First Choice admitted liability for a food poisoning illness contracted by Mr Mayes in the Dominican Republic. 

Simon Davis, a personal injury partner at Ashtons Legal, adds:

“Some people may think that food hygiene standards are simply the responsibility of a holiday resort or hotel and that it is all too far away to do anything about once the trip back is complete. Help is closer to home.

“The tour operator has a duty to ensure these are of an acceptable standard if food is supplied as part of the package. Compensation for personal injury will surely follow if standards have been breached and pain, suffering and damage sustained.”