A UK tourist has been left reeling after contracting salmonella during a £6,000 holiday in Jamaica with travel company TUI. Tony Wallace, 59, and his wife Alison, 57, were celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary when he fell seriously ill, leading to a directive from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) requiring him to isolate upon returning home.
The couple traveled to the all-inclusive Sunset at the Palms resort in Negril on June 20, 2022, only to describe their experience as a “disaster.” Tony claims that the food served at the resort was “awful” and “disgusting,” asserting that it was responsible for his infection. He reported that meals were presented in “silver troughs,” with some dishes allegedly reheated from the previous night.
On July 1, after enjoying a day at the beach, Tony suddenly began feeling unwell. He recalled, “My wife looked at me and said, ‘you look grey,’ and I said I’ve got to go back to the room.” He experienced severe stomach pains, dizziness, and what he described as “the most horrendous diarrhoea” imaginable.
Despite seeking assistance at the hotel, Tony found that there were no medical facilities on-site. Resort staff offered him Pepto-Bismol but did not recommend a taxi to the hospital due to safety concerns. He stated, “I was trying to seek medical help… I gained no help whatsoever.” He also noted difficulties in contacting a TUI representative due to technical issues with the company’s app.
The couple ultimately completed their holiday, but Tony faced significant discomfort during the flight home. He had to inform the airline crew that he would be frequently visiting the restroom, which he described as a challenging ten-hour journey.
Upon returning to Portsmouth, he went directly to A&E, where he was advised to provide a stool sample. The pain persisted, and he struggled to eat or drink. Eventually, he received a notification from Portsmouth City Council instructing him to cease work immediately due to the salmonella infection he contracted while at the hotel.
Tony expressed his frustration with TUI, stating, “I am absolutely disgusted with TUI. We’ve holidayed with them for years, but I’ve said now, take me off your records.” He claimed that the travel company refused to issue a refund and suggested that he pursue legal action if he wished to escalate the matter.
Despite Tony’s insistence that he could provide photographic evidence and documentation from the UKHSA confirming the timing of his infection, TUI allegedly told him he could have contracted salmonella elsewhere. “What more can you do when you’ve got photographic evidence and an email from the UKHSA? It’s all there in black and white,” he added.
As the issue unfolds, the couple’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with international travel and the importance of food safety in the hospitality industry. TUI has been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
