I’m permanently paralysed after getting tummy bug on dream Caribbean holiday – now I want £5m from TUI
A DAD-of-three who says he was left permanently paralysed by a freak tummy bug after a tropical island getaway is now fighting for £5m compensation from holiday giants TUI.
William Marsh claims he picked up severe food poisoning while on a dream holiday in the Dominican Republic, which caused a freak reaction in his body and left him crippled in a wheelchair.
Mr Marsh was celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary with his wife, Kathryn, and their 17-year-old daughter in July 2018 with an all-inclusive week-long stay at the luxury Riu Naiboa hotel when he was taken ill with stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
But rather than recovering after a few days, he struggled to get back to his work as an engineer on returning home, then experienced the sudden onset of a terrifying paralysis.
Four years on, Mr Marsh is now suing holiday giant TUI, which he booked the trip through, for up to £5m in London's High Court over his life-changing condition, which he blames on poor hygiene or food preparation standards at the Rui Naiboa.
Mr Marsh’s lawyers say a bacterial infection picked up at the hotel triggered a devastating neurological disease known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome - in which the immune system attacks the nerves instead of fighting to block germs.
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But TUI is denying all blame, hotly disputing that the hotel was the source of any toxic tummy bug.
The four-star Riu Naiboa hotel, which sits 400 metres from an acclaimed beach, states on its website that it prides itself on offering up a “wide variety of flavours and aromas” from its buffet and “themed” restaurant, and also on serving up traditional Dominican cuisine.
The case against TUI reached the High Court last week in a preliminary hearing between lawyers hammering out the complex issues that will shape the future trial.
Matthew Chapman - barrister for Mr Marsh - said he would be seeking evidence about food preparation and systems of hygiene at the hotel in the past, as well as “any recorded incidents of complaints about gastric or gastric related illnesses”.
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The issues of negligence and the cause of his illness are both contested by TUI, which is also challenging the amount of compensation claimed.
The 59-year-old, of Mountain Ash, Wales, has spoken of how he awoke to find he had no feeling in his legs, then experiencing the gradual horror of numbness spreading across his body.
Soon after, he lapsed into a coma and was treated on a ventilator, before undergoing intensive rehab after regaining consciousness.
What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a very rare but serious condition which affects the nerves, according to the .
It mainly affects the feet, hands and limbs, causing issues with numbness, weakness and pain.
While it can be treated and most people make a full recovery it can, at times, be life-threatening and can leave some people with long-term problems.
The symptoms often start in the feet and hands before spreading to the arms and legs.
The signs to be aware of are numbness, pins and needles, muscle weakness, pain and problems with balance and co-ordination.
Symptoms will often get worse over the next few weeks before they start to slowly improve.
In severe cases, sufferers may have difficulty moving, walking, breathing and/or swallowing.
Guillain-Barre syndrome is thought to be caused by a problem with the immune system, the body's natural defence against illness and infection.
Normally the immune system attacks any germs that get into the body. But in people with Guillain-Barré syndrome, something goes wrong and it mistakenly attacks and damages the nerves.
Most people are treated in hospital.
The main treatments are:
- intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) – a treatment made from donated blood that helps bring your immune system under control
- plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) – an alternative to IVIG where a machine is used to filter your blood to remove the harmful substances that are attacking your nerves
- treatments to reduce symptoms such as painkillers
- treatments to support body functions, such as a machine to help with breathing and/or a feeding tube
Most people need to stay in hospital for a few weeks to a few months.
He says he has been left using a wheelchair to get around and stricken by severe weakness down the left side of his body, drastically affecting his ability to grip with his left hand.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome is very rare and sometimes develops after an infection.
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Some patients are only mildly affected, while others can suffer major nerve damage which shuts down their mobility.
Mr Chapman told the court the eventual trial will hear evidence from a battery of expert witnesses, including microbiologists and a specialist on local food and hygiene standards.
