Compensation for holidaymakers struck down by illness

The Royal Courts of Justice in London have been inundated with compensation claims after hundreds of tourists were struck down by food poisoning while on holiday in Turkey.

Almost 600 British tourists have sought legal representation after they fell seriously ill at the Holiday Village Turkey resort in Sarigerme from May to October 2009.

In February this year, The Telegraph reported on Coventry holidaymakers Pam Price, his brother Brian and his fiancée Karen Mateer who in 2008 spent virtually their whole holiday in their rooms after falling ill at Sarigerme.

The 500-room hotel, offered exclusively to UK tourist by travel agents First Choice, was the subject of an investigation by BBC consumer show Watchdog in 2009 and has seen over 1,200 people take legal action in just a few years.

In a statement First Choice said it could "confirm that it has been in communication with a no win, no fee law firm regarding claims of sickness at the Holiday Village Turkey in 2009 for a significant amount of time".

According to First Choice, out of the 46,000 customers who had stayed at Sarigerme last year, less than 1% reported minor ailments such as a mild stomach upset, adding: "In 2010 alone, 90% of guests rated the accommodation as good or excellent."

"We are therefore disappointed to hear that the law firm has now decided to initiate court proceedings against us," added the statement.

Have you fallen ill on holiday?  Been let down by your travel agent or the state of your accommodation?  Contact our experts today and we'll see what sort of compensation is available.