Birmingham holiday horror family win £7k
A BIRMINGHAM family whose holiday turned into a nightmare when their daughter was struck with a potentially deadly gastric disease has won a huge payout from tour operator giant Thomas Cook.
Craig and Sharon Daykin, from Castle Bromwich, have been awarded more than £7,400 in damages – after initially being offered just £250 in holiday vouchers in recompense.
Their all-inclusive break with their daughters Jessica and Alex in Turkey was ruined by a dangerous bug normally found in farmyard animals.
Craig and Jessica, who was 12 at the time, fell ill at the five star Club Belizia hotel, in Bodrum but the youngster’s condition worsened and she was admitted to a Turkish hospital and diagnosed with gastric illness Cryptosprodium. Thomas Cook Tour Operations paid out the damages after admitting liability.
Mrs Daykin, a 38-year-old healthcare assistant at Heartlands Hospital, said Jessica was in so much agony, she needed morphine.
Mr Daykin, aged 45, described hotel rooms as filthy with birds allowed to feast on food in the restaurant and a stench of sewage coming from the pool.
“It was a very traumatic experience,” said Mr Daykin, a Land Rover worker, who is still unhappy that no apology has ever been made by the company.
“Jessica was particularly ill, both on holiday and on her return, which was very upsetting for the whole family.
“The conditions in the hotel were appalling. Food was often undercooked and flies were in and around the food in the restaurant.
“We are very happy that this matter has now been brought to a conclusion and just hope that Thomas Cook will learn lessons from this.”
