Father to sue luxury Turkish resort after contracting severe food poisoning

Father-of-two, 42, plans to sue Turkish resort after luxury dream holiday turned into a nightmare when severe food poisoning forced him to go to hospital for three days

  • Anthony Christie from Sunderland went to the Limak Lara Resort near Antalya
  • The plumber said he saw cats in the restaurant and undercooked fish served
  • Doctors believe he contracted campylobacter, a common food poisoning cause
  • It is unclear how he became ill but he has now contacted lawyers who are seeking to establish the cause
  • The resort said no complaints were made at the time by Mr Christie or any guests and food is prepared to the required standard
  • Have you had a holiday from hell? Email jack.a.newman@mailonline.co.uk 

A father-of-two is considering legal action after he contracted food poisoning during a special family holiday to a luxury five-star resort in Turkey which left him hospitalised for three days on his return to the UK.

Anthony Christie, 42, said he saw cats wandering around the restaurant and undercooked fish being served at the Limak Lara Resort near Antalya.

The self-employed plumber from Sunderland claims he contracted campylobacter, one of the most common causes of food poisoning, and complained of diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy and hot and cold shivers near the end of his week-long trip.

Mr Christie said the holiday – the first time the group had been away together – became a ‘nightmare’ and he has now contacted his lawyers.

Anthony Christie, 42, pictured with children Jessica and Jack, said he had the holiday from hell after contracting food poisoning in Turkey

He said: ‘It was a big family holiday with seven adults and five kids in total and we were having a great time.

‘However, when I fell ill I was in a really bad way and the final few days were ruined.

‘I struggled throughout the flight, I was shivering horribly and just could not get warm.

‘When I got home I knew I needed to see my doctor so even though I got home in the middle of the night I set my alarm for early the next day.

‘My doctor seemed quite worried and told me that I needed to go to hospital. When I was told I had suspected campylobacter I couldn’t believe it.

The plumber from Sunderland said he saw cats wandering around the restaurant at the Limak Lara Resort near Antalya in Turkey (pictured)

The plumber from Sunderland said he saw cats wandering around the restaurant at the Limak Lara Resort near Antalya in Turkey (pictured)

‘It’s been a nightmare and it is not over yet because I still do not feel 100%.’ 

Mr Christie had to take a week off work when he returned and spent three days as an inpatient at the Sunderland Royal Hospital. 

He had visited the luxury resort in May with wife Gillian, 42, his six-year-old son Jack, 10-year-old daughter Jessica and other members of their family.

He said: ‘While I was aware of some issues like some undercooked fish being served and on occasions cats roaming around the restaurant, I didn’t think for a moment that I could be at risk of falling ill.

‘The problems have been horrendous and I wouldn’t wish them on anyone.

‘I am just so disappointed and frustrated by everything that has happened and want to know if it all could have been avoided. I’d hate to think that someone else might face this too.’

Bosses at the holiday resort said it was examining a complaint from Mr Christie.

Have you had a holiday from hell? 

Email jack.a.newman@mailonline.co.uk 

Guest relations manager Emre Özyurt said: ‘There was no single complaint to the doctor’s office in the hotel by Mr Anthony Christie (or) any other guest who stayed during the same period.

‘There are two positive comments in our system by Mr Anthony Christie about their satisfaction of their stay.

‘We do obey ISO 22000 standards in order to purchase and cook the meals and take a sample to analyse.’

Mr Özyurt said the resort’s legal team had been contacted about the allegations.

After falling ill, Mr Christie approached law firm Irwin Mitchell’s specialist international personal injury team for help.

Bosses at the holiday resort said it was examining a complaint but pointed out Mr Christie left two positive comments about the resort during his stay

Bosses at the holiday resort said it was examining a complaint but pointed out Mr Christie left two positive comments about the resort during his stay

Clare Pearson, a legal expert at Irwin Mitchell, said: ‘We are hugely concerned by the first-hand account that Anthony has provided regarding his holiday and are now working to determine how these issues emerged.

‘This was meant to be a very special family holiday for Anthony and his loved ones but the illness has meant it will now be remembered for all of the wrong reasons.

‘It is also a case which puts a clear spotlight on how gastric illness problems can have a major impact on victims, with Anthony requiring hospital treatment as he attempted to recover. Even now he has not made a full recovery from his illness.

‘While nothing can change what he has faced, we are keen to ensure he gets the answers he deserves regarding his experience.’

A spokesman for Jet2, who the family bought the trip through, said: ‘As lawyers have been instructed it would be inappropriate for us to make any comment.’

  • Have you had a holiday from hell? Email jack.a.newman@mailonline.co.uk 

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