Woman Contracted Horror Illness After Holiday At Five-Star Resort In The Caribbean

A woman contracted a horror illness after a holiday with her son at a five-star luxury resort in the Caribbean.

Samantha Broadbent, 49, had booked a holiday at a luxury resort, the Grand Sirenis Punta Cana Resort, in the Dominican Republic in late August to spend time with her son. While she was staying at the resort with her son Ben, she was struck down by vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps on the last day of her holiday stay, the Mirror reported.

Her condition deteriorated upon her return to the UK. After her return to the UK, she had to be treated in hospital with IV antibiotics for Shigella, a bacterial infection most commonly contracted by consuming food or water that has become contaminated.

Even though it has been more than two months, Samantha still has ongoing symptoms of the bacterial infection. She has instructed lawyers to investigate how she became infected.

"I booked the holiday so I could have some quality time with Ben after he finished school. We had both been really looking forward to it, but by the end of the trip I was really unwell," she said.

Samantha also expressed concerns about the level of hygiene at the hotel, Daily Express reported.

"Food was left uncovered and reheated, with new food added to the existing. There were also crabs and cats seen around the buffet, as well as spiders and flies. It really didn’t seem hygienic to me."

Samantha claimed that she saw plasters and bugs floating in the pool. She added that it "really isn’t something you expect from a five-star resort."

Samantha added that she has heard of other families who similarly became ill during their stay at the five-star hotel.

"I'm not someone who normally suffers from a delicate stomach, but it's been awful since our holiday."

"I always have to make sure there’s a toilet around and there are some things I can’t eat now as they trigger it. To find out I had a bacterial infection was a huge shock and I deserve some answers."

"While I can't change what I’ve been through, knowing how it happened might help stop others from suffering as I have."

Samantha is now being represented by lawyers at Irwin Mitchell.

"We’re now investigating how Samantha developed her illness and are determined to obtain the answers she deserves," Jatinder Paul, a specialist international serious injury lawyer at the firm, said.