'I went on holiday of a lifetime for my 60th and was so sick I thought I'd die'
One Brit went on the holiday of a lifetime to celebrate their 60th birthday - but was left so ill they worried they were going to die.
Wendy Brown travelled to the five-star Barcelo Maya Grand Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico, with her husband Nigel, 68, in May this year.
The two-week trip was booked with TUI to celebrate Wendy’s 60th birthday. But their dream holiday ended up with the NHS worker being rushed to the hospital “screaming in pain” with a gastric illness.
About halfway through their trip, Wendy fell seriously ill with gastric symptoms including abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. She was rushed to hospital and put on a drip. Wendy's test results showed she had contracted entamoeba histolytica, an intestinal infection more commonly known as dysentery, and an inflamed colon. On her return home, Wendy discovered she also tested positive for salmonella.
Wendy in hospital in Mexico (SWNS)It all began on May 12 this year, the seventh day of the holiday the Liverpool ECHO reported, when Wendy began to feel achy and shivery. By the evening, she was suffering from diarrhoea and complaining of abdominal pain. Three days later, on May 15, Wendy was seen by a doctor at the resort. She was taken to hospital, where she underwent various tests and a CT scan due to passing a lot of blood.
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She remained in hospital until the day before the couple’s departure date and took various medications to help her get through the flight home. Since landing back in the UK, she has had to take time off work due to her ongoing symptoms.
Wendy said: “Both Nigel and I were excited to be going to Mexico to celebrate my 60th but it was completely ruined when I fell ill. At first, I thought I might have had too much sun, but it became clear quite quickly that it was something else.
"The symptoms got worse and worse to the point that I was screaming with pain. I remember telling Nigel at one point that I felt like I was going to die. I can’t believe I went on holiday and returned home with two serious illnesses.
“I’ve been home over a month now and I’m still not better. While I can’t change what’s happened, I feel I deserve some answers. I wouldn’t have wished what I went through on anyone.”
Wendy has now instructed serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her illness. Sarita Sharma, the solicitor representing Wendy, said: “Wendy was really looking forward to celebrating her birthday in Mexico with Nigel and was devastated when she fell ill.
“The first-hand account of her symptoms and subsequent confirmed diagnoses during her holiday and on her return to the UK are very concerning. The effects of gastric illness are serious and should never be downplayed, with some people going on to develop long-term health problems.
“Understandably Wendy has many questions over how she fell ill and we’re now looking into these. If during the course of our investigation, any issues are identified, it’s vital that lessons are learned to help prevent future holidaymakers from suffering illness.
“If you also stayed at this resort and think that you can help with our enquiries into the issues faced by the Browns, we would like to hear from you.”
A TUI spokesperson said: “We’re very sorry to hear about Mrs Brown’s experience on her holiday in Mexico. As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to comment any further.”
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