Walsall Wood couple win £3k payout after holiday ruined by illness
It was supposed to be a dream holiday to celebrate a wedding anniversary – but it turned into a nightmare for Christine Niven when she was struck down by a stomach bug.
Now Christine and her husband Paul have received £3,000 in compensation after their trip to Tunisia last April was ruined by the illness.
Soon after they arrived on their dream holiday, Mrs Niven started having a number of symptoms including diarrhoea, sickness, nausea and severe stomach cramps – and it was confirmed she had contracted the illness cryptosporidiosis.
It took six weeks for the 65-year-old from Walsall Wood to fully recover from the illness, which is often transmitted through water or swimming pools.
Mrs Niven, a counsellor, had been joined by Paul, aged 68, and her daughter Paula on the 11-day break to the four-star Hotel Riviera in Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia, booked through Thomas Cook.
It was to help mark the couple's 43rd wedding anniversary.
They had attempted to avoid such illness by only drinking bottled water during their holiday,.
Symptoms of the holiday illness continued on Mrs Niven's return to the UK, where she contacted Your Holiday Claims, a division of Farnworth Rose Solicitors in Lancashire.
They have now received £3,000 in compensation.
Mrs Niven said: "The illness that I suffered truly did ruin our holiday.
"It is a horrible experience to go through on what should have been such a special occasion," she added.
Anne Thomson, head of Travel Law at Your Holiday Claims, said: "When British holidaymakers are exposed to cryptosporidium this does leave them in serious danger of falling ill on holiday."
A statement from the travel company said: "Thomas Cook closely audits all the properties to which it operates with a view to ensuring that the very highest hygiene standards are maintained.
"We are sorry that Mrs Niven fell ill while on holiday, and have extended our apologies to Mr and Mrs Niven and reached an agreement with her legal representatives.
"All customers due to travel to the Hotel Riviera should rest assured that this was an isolated incident, and that the property enjoys a good health and safety record.
"We would kindly ask any customers who may have concerns relating to their holiday to contact us directly and as quickly as possible so that we can deal with them personally in an open, honest and fair manner."
