A MOTHER has spoken of her fear after a family trip abroad turned into a holiday from hell, resulting in her son having to have hospital treatment.
Cherie Daniel, from Clothall, travelled with six of her family and friends for a two-week holiday at the five star, all-inclusive, Sentido Perissia Hotel in the resort of Side in Turkey.
They arrived on August 13, but within 48 hours Mrs Daniel had become ill with stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Others in her party started suffering similar symptoms.
The 45-year-old fitness instructor said: “At first we just thought we must have eaten something that didn’t agree with us. I reported to the rep in the hotel that I had a stomach bug and didn’t feel well. We were told by the rep and hotel it was probably the hot weather. I was sent to the hotel doctor, but when I got down to the waiting room it was just full of people all complaining of the same problem.”
According to national newspaper reports ‘hundreds’ of people have fallen ill in the last month at the hotel.
Of the seven people in Mrs Daniel’s party, three ended up on drips in hospital, including her 10-year-old son Dylan.
“We were going to hospital in a minibus because there were so many of us,” she said.
“It was a really scary experience being in a foreign country in hospital. We weren’t given any information.
“We do believe there were people that were ill before we arrived. I think the hotel tried to help the best they could but the rep was totally out of his depth.
“I suffered the most horrendous cramps and am still suffering now. The doctor has said it could take several weeks to fully recover.
“We asked to be flown home or moved from the hotel but we were denied both. It wasn’t a cheap place to go – between the seven of us it cost around £7,500.”
The holiday was booked through Thomas Cook, which has now suspended bookings to the hotel.
Alastair Brass, Thomas Cook director of service and quality UK, said: “We know how important holidays are, and how upsetting it can be when you’re ill overseas.
“Sentido has put extra measures in place to minimise the spread, whilst we moved new arrivals to alternative hotels and immediately sent a UK hygiene expert to carry out comprehensive tests. Results indicate the cause is viral, not the hotel’s hygiene standards.
“The Sentido Perissia is popular with British customers, enjoying an excellent health and safety record and rates highly in customer satisfaction surveys.
“We’re sorry guests have been unwell and our experienced resort team continues to support those still with the 24 to 48-hour symptoms.”
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