Sixteen members of the same family are part of a group of 100 holidaymakers suing a tour company after being struck down by illness at a five-star resort.
The family all stayed at the luxurious Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Resort in Egypt but their trip ended up being a holiday from hell after they contracted E.coli and salmonella.
Richard Hornsby, 38, and his wife Natasha, 29, from Hemel Hempstead, have now instructed personal injury lawyers to investigate the outbreak.
They had booked their trip through tour operator TUI UK Limited, trading as First Choice, and arrived in Africa in July.
Richard Hornsby, 38, and his wife Natasha, 29, were pictured at the resort with their children Finley (left) and Jessica (right)
Jake (pictured leftin a British hospital) fell ill just two days before the family was due to fly home and had to undergo several courses of antibiotics. The youngsters (pictured left to right, Finley, Jessica, Jake) were also on the trip
But children as young as three and seven-months-old were among those in the family to suffer severe diarrhoea and sickness during their stay.
Mr and Mrs Hornsby jetted off for their two-week stay at the resort on July 3, with children Jake, then seven months, Jessica, aged nine and three-year-old Finley.
The couple said they both fell ill as did their children and they had to seek medical treatment on their return to the UK.
Mr and Mrs Hornsby took Jake, who was born with one kidney, to their GP after he fell ill two days before the family was due to fly home and had to undergo several courses of antibiotics and had various medical tests.
He was admitted to hospital upon returning home for overnight treatment after he was diagnosed with E.coli – a bacterial infection and more severe cases can lead to serious complications including bloody urine, dehydration and kidney failure.
Mrs Hornsby said she is still continuing to suffer with diarrhoea.
Nichola Blackburn, an International Personal Injury specialist for Irwin Mitchell, is now representing more than 100 holidaymakers in a group action against TUI UK Ltd.
She said: ‘Illnesses such as gastroenteritis, to include those caused by E.coli and salmonella can have serious, long-term health implications for those who are struck down.
‘We have received and worryingly continue to receive many similar reports that people have fallen ill while staying at the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Resort over this summer.
‘Concerns include instances of poor food hygiene and incidents of faeces in the swimming pool, which some of our clients witnessed and believe were not dealt with swiftly.
‘Irwin Mitchell is now representing over 100 people who were affected by illness at the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Resort.
Ashley Coughtrey, 28, had travelled to the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Resort with his wife Joanne (pictured with their son Zack) to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.
‘We would encourage anyone who stayed at the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Resort this year and has since experienced gastric symptoms, to see their GP at the earliest available opportunity.
‘We would also like to speak with them as they may be able to help with our investigations.
‘TUI UK Ltd, trading as First Choice, has responded in relation to a number of our clients’ claims confirming that they are denying any liability.
‘We have urged them to reconsider their stance in light of the vast number of people who have fallen ill during their stay at the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Resort and the serious cases of illness that have been reported.’
Her brother Ashley Coughtrey, 28, had travelled to the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Resort with his wife Joanne to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.
Mr Coughtrey, also from Hemel Hempstead, fell ill on July 6. Tests showed he had contracted salmonella. He is still suffering ongoing symptoms, including gastric related symptoms and groin pains.
His three-year-old son Zack also suffered sickness and diarrhoea as did his wife Joanne.
Jake (pictured) was admitted to hospital upon returning home for overnight treatment after he was diagnosed with E.coli
Both Natasha and Ashley have told their legal team at Irwin Mitchell that on occasions they saw food left uncovered, they witnessed on occasions raw meat placed next to cooked meat.
They also claim they saw chefs sometimes not changing gloves or washing their hands after handling raw meat and that dishes were a number of times served lukewarm.
The family also said that they witnessed instances of faeces in the swimming pool.
Their grandparents, Joan, 78, and Bob Britton, 73, were initially unable to leave their room much due to suffering with severe diarrhoea.
Natasha said: ‘I felt so guilty when the doctor told me Jake’s illness had probably been caused by him going abroad.
‘To see Jake in the pain he was experiencing was terrible. I felt so helpless and with Jake’s past medical history his illness was even more frightening.
‘As soon as I was told he had contracted E.coli I blamed myself. To think that Jake could have potentially died because of his illness is gut wrenching.
‘We as a family just want to warn people of the consequences of contracting such illness.’
Her brother Ashley said: ‘With my grandparents growing older this was meant to be a dream holiday where all the family would go away for one last time and me and Joanne could celebrate our first anniversary.
‘We had been saving for months to afford it, however, what should have been a holiday from which we all went home with lasting memories, turned into a nightmare.
‘We are not surprised that other people have been unfortunate and fallen ill at the hotel. We now want to know what caused our illnesses.’
TUI UK Limited told MailOnline: ‘We’re sorry to hear these customers were unhappy with their holiday experience.
‘As these cases are now subject to legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
‘We’d like to remind customers that we regularly audit the accommodations we feature in respect of health and safety, including hygiene.’