Heage couple’s legal action after holiday illness

Retired couple Orford and Vanessa Hopkins take legal action against Beresford Hotel at Newquay after they and others were allegedly struck down with illness.

Orford, 72, and Vanessa Hopkins, 71, from Heage, were among the group who had been on a coach trip to the Beresford Hotel in February.

Irwin Mitchell’s, of Sheffield, claimed that a large number of the group fell ill and suffered with symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches and fever and guests allegedly reported others staying at the hotel had been suffering with similar symptoms.

More than 30 group members have instructed specialist illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to represent them.

Mrs Hopkins said: “We’re still getting over it. We had sickness and diarrhoea for about six days and it ruined our holiday. We want Irwin Mitchell’s to look into this to make sure nothing like this happens again.”

Irwin Mitchell partner and expert public health lawyer Amandeep Dhillon said reports of an illness outbreak amongst guests staying at a UK hotel are very concerning.

A spokesperson for Shearings Group, which oversees the hotel, said: “We take matters of public health incredibly seriously and thankfully outbreaks like this are very rare.

“We took immediate remedial action to limit the impact and worked with colleagues in the local environmental health team throughout the incident.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers at the hotel and continue to work hard to support those affected.”

One of the holidaymakers, Louise Edwards, 45, told how she had to take a week off work because she claimed her symptoms continued after her return home.

She hopes Irwin Mitchell will help provide answers.