Inquiry highlights care failings

A family is taking legal action against a travel company after they were struck down by a serious illness while on holiday in Egypt.

Kim and Kelvin Hickmore, from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, were staying at the Holiday Village hotel in Sharm El Sheikh with their two young children when all four of them fell ill with symptoms including soaring temperatures, diarrhoea and abdominal pains.

Eleven-month-old Logan was so ill he was admitted to hospital with the bug, and the family are now pursuing legal action against tour operator First Choice with whom they booked their holiday.

Travel law specialists Irwin Mitchell said they have had a high level of inquiries from other guests who have complained of similar symptoms after staying at the hotel in the past couple of months.

Clive Garner, head of travel law at Irwin Mitchell, said: "We are very concerned about the scale of the reported problems at the Holiday Village hotel. We have had dozens of guests contacting us and complaining of severe illness following stays at the hotel in June and July 2008.

"In addition we are already representing several other British families who contracted similar illnesses during stays at the Holiday Village in June and July 2007." He added that the pattern of illness was common in hotels where "substandard health and hygiene conditions are in place".

Mrs Hickmore, 33, said: "It was awful. The abdominal pains were so severe I would compare them to labour pains. I was clenching my fists waiting for them to pass."

She said her son Logan was struck down so badly that he was unable to keep any food or fluids down after three days of visits to the hotel doctor, and he was rushed to hospital amid fears of dehydration.

Mrs Hickmore said: "It was such a worrying time, and a dreadful thing to have to watch my child go through.

"By the time we arrived at the hospital, Logan was so ill that his eyes were rolling back. He was just limp and lifeless. I honestly think the doctor at the hospital saved his life. I dread to think what could have happened."