A COUPLE have told how their dream holiday turned into a living nightmare after they were struck down with a gastric bug, which swept through a luxury island resort.
Mark and Julia Pooler, from Hilperton, near Trowbridge, paid more than £3,000 for their two-week trip to the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, earlier this year.
They needed a break after months of angst following Mr Pooler's discovery of a lump in his testicle.
Although it turned out to be a harmless cyst, the cancer scare took its toll on the couple and they brought the celebrations for their 25th wedding anniversary forward and booked the holiday of a lifetime.
A few days after arriving at the four-star Huduranfushi Island Resort, Mr Pooler, a logistics manager, was struck down with a debilitating gastric illness.
The 42 year old said: "It took me down first. I was really poorly - the worst I've ever felt. I was vomiting and I had diarrhoea.
advertisement
"I was struggling to walk and could hardly breathe and I was hit by some really nasty hallucinations. I felt so bad that I lost the will to live.
"More and more people started to go down with it, including Julia, and people were collapsing all over the place.
"We were wandering around like zombies. It was like a scene from the film Shaun of the Dead. It was horrible."
So many people went down with the illness, resort managers brought in a doctor to deal with the sick holidaymakers.
The Poolers, who returned to the UK at the beginning of March, along with at least five other couples have reported suffering from illness after staying there.
In the latest development, the group has employed a law firm to examine what went on at the resort and how travel company Thomson Holidays (TUI) handled the subsequent complaints.
Mrs Pooler, 44, who works at Leekes in Melksham, said: "We are glad to be back in the UK, but have not yet recovered from our symptoms.
"The food at the hotel appeared to be left uncovered with new food being added to existing food and we were also shocked to find flies around the restaurant, landing on the food."
Suki Chhokar from international travel law firm Irwin Mitchell is representing the group.
He said, "It is of great concern that a number of guests at this hotel have reported an outbreak of serious gastric illness.
"Several of our clients required hospital treatment and some are still suffering symptoms of illness several weeks after their initial infection."
A Thomson spokesman said: "This is currently being looked at and we will issue a comprehensive statement shortly.
Posted by: julesambaker, bradford on avon on 4:10pm Fri 2 May 08
What a suprise to see the picture of Huduranfushi in the Maldives, and then read the article on Mr & Mrs Pooler.
My wife and I honeymooned there in September last year. Our experience couldnt have been more different !The food, and service were excellent ,food was freshly prepared daily,all areas of the resort were immaculately clean and we never saw any evidence of flies on food. Thompsons reps were excellent.We wouldnt hesitate to recommend to anyone.
Could this be a case of bad luck in catching a virus on holiday, then trying for compensation when you get home ?
What a suprise to see the picture of Huduranfushi in the Maldives, and then read the article on Mr & Mrs Pooler.
My wife and I honeymooned there in September last year. Our experience couldnt have been more different !The food, and service were excellent ,food was freshly prepared daily,all areas of the resort were immaculately clean and we never saw any evidence of flies on food. Thompsons reps were excellent.We wouldnt hesitate to recommend to anyone.
Could this be a case of bad luck in catching a virus on holiday, then trying for compensation when you get home ?
Same here, just came back from Bandos in the Maldives, never had a better holiday. However, reading the artice shows that there were several victimms so it must be genuine.
Same here, just came back from Bandos in the Maldives, never had a better holiday. However, reading the artice shows that there were several victimms so it must be genuine.
Posted by: Heckler, Tin-pot County Town on 12:02pm Sat 3 May 08
Don't get me wrong - I feel sorry for these people but the story is hardly worthy of front page headlines. Nevertheless the Wiltshire Times made this their front page story this week.
The paper is more like a naff womens magazine than a newspaper these days.
Don't get me wrong - I feel sorry for these people but the story is hardly worthy of front page headlines. Nevertheless the Wiltshire Times made this their front page story this week.
The paper is more like a naff womens magazine than a newspaper these days.
Posted by: Necker, Trowbridge on 7:46pm Sat 3 May 08
"They needed a break after months of angst following Mr Pooler's discovery of a lump in his testicle." [bold]only a woman would write that.[/bold]
"and booked the holiday of a lifetime." [bold]Woman speak..[/bold]
"Naff Womens Mag" [italic]<Heckler 03/05/08 12:02pm>[/italic]
just about sums up some of these front pagers.
Many of these stories rate highly in the 'Emotional Arena' so I'm confident that there are more women than men choosing what makes the news and what does not.
Prove me wrong.. I lay down this challenge to you....
How many women and how many men are involved with these decisions?
Facts and news not Coronation Street & crisps, not much to ask. ;)
p.s. wish you were here
"They needed a break after months of angst following Mr Pooler's discovery of a lump in his testicle." only a woman would write that.
"and booked the holiday of a lifetime." Woman speak..
"Naff Womens Mag" <Heckler 03/05/08 12:02pm>
just about sums up some of these front pagers.
Many of these stories rate highly in the 'Emotional Arena' so I'm confident that there are more women than men choosing what makes the news and what does not.
Prove me wrong.. I lay down this challenge to you....
How many women and how many men are involved with these decisions?
Facts and news not Coronation Street & crisps, not much to ask. ;)
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
