Dozens of Brits struck down with crippling diarrhoea bug at First Choice Tenerife resort after guests ‘defecated in the pools’

BRITISH families have had their holidays trashed after they caught a nasty virus allegedly caused by guests pooing in the pool.  

The holidaymakers found themselves sitting on the toilet with sickness and diarrhoea rather than on a sun-lounger with an ice cold cocktail.

Doctors suspect that the dozens of Brits who had fallen ill were victims of an outbreak of cryptosporidium.

But now angry tourists are blaming poor hygiene at swimming pools at the First Choice holiday resort.

The resorts affected are the four star Holiday village Be live in the resort of Costa Los Gigantes on Tenerife.

The Sun Online understands the pools have been regularly closed over the last month after guests complained people had been defecating in them.

And bosses at the 518 room Tenerife resort hotel have now kept the pools closed permanently.

Chemically treatment has been underway for the past two days.

Last year there was a similar outbreak of illness centred around the swimming pools involving 100 holidaymakers.

Guests have now reported seeing health experts being drafted in to test the pool water.

First Choice are also offering compensation for their ruined holidays.

But guests are still outraged.

Many children who have since returned home have tested positive for cryptosporidium after medical tests by their GPs.

Mum-of-two Tracey Galloway told the Sun Online how both her sons caught the bug after taking a dip in the pool and one of them has since dropped a stone in weight.

Tracey said her 15-year-old son Scott fell ill just a few days into their trip followed a few days later by her other 11-year-old son Matthew.

The 45-year-old from Dundee visited the resort with her husband and kids last month for a half term break treat.

But Tracey ended up spending most of her holiday caring for either of her sick sons and a family friend travelling with them did the same with her son.

She said: “It is very worrying as a mother that you can go to a family resort and then have your children catch a serious bug like this that could have long term health Implications.

“Your tour operator is supposed to look after you not expose you to bugs.”

Tracey added: "This was our third visit here but will definitely be our last.

“It is horrific what they are doing. My sons have been so sick. They should be honest and not try and hide the sickness problem from their guests.”

Mrs Galloway is now taking legal action against First Choice over her ordeal.

Facebook is also full of complaints.

Nick Harris, of holiday claim specialists Simpson Millar solicitors, who is handling claims for affected holidaymakers from both outbreaks, said “ This is too little too late and a real case of deja vu.“Lessons don't seem to have been learned from an outbreak at the same hotel resort last year. “We have people still suffering the effects of getting ill then and now lots more people will suffer."We have been swamped with calls from guests over the last few weeks who have fallen ill in resort and are quite rightly worried about their health.

“Cryptosporidium can have very serious long term health implications.

“In some cases people have had to have part of their bowel removed due to complications brought on by associated gastric illness.

“Holiday companies need to do much more to ensure that hygiene standards are improved and holidaymakers are not subject to water borne illnesses."

Angry customers concerned about the outbreak of cryptosporidium in the resort in Tenerife are posting their frustrations online.

Bigste Steve 123 from Lichfield posted on Tripadvisor: "Cryptosporidium and NOT impressed. Won't be going back.

"Having been there only a day and half our 4 yr old son complained of stomach ache, and then he had diarrhea. He was not right for the rest of our holiday.”

Bettyboo03 from Kent wrote: “My son got a tummy bug while we were there, not nice to be throwing up and dashing to the loo while on holiday.

“First Choice tried to palm me off with oh he’s probably eaten too much and drank too much pool water. But I’m sure it was unclean pools!!”

Karon Bricknell posted on Facebook. “So I have to spend my last night in a queue for a rep to get a form to claim.”

A spokeswoman for First Choice said: “We’re sorry to hear that a small number of customers staying at the Holiday Village in Tenerife have reported feeling unwell.

“As a result we are working with the hotel and local authorities who have taken the decision to close the pools while an investigation is carried out.

"We are concerned by the reports that this sickness may have been caused by the actions of other guests.

“While incidents of this nature are very rare, we take a zero tolerance approach to this type of behaviour and anybody found to be doing this deliberately will be asked to leave the hotel."

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