A British holidaymaker has been awarded £18,000 in compensation after a hotel staff member in Cape Verde kneed him in the leg, causing a serious injury that required surgery.
A Sudden and Unprovoked Attack
Ryan Mendelson, from Manchester, was on the penultimate day of his holiday at the Hotel RIU Touraeg when the incident occurred. He was standing by the pool bar talking to two other guests when, without warning, a member of the hotel's entertainment team approached him from behind.
"All of a sudden and completely out of nowhere, he came behind me and kneed me in the back of the knee," Mr Mendelson recalled. "I felt my knee click, twist and go out of place, and I fell to the floor like a sack of potatoes. I was in a state of shock and couldn't move."
He emphasised that the act was an "unprovoked assault" and that he had no prior interaction or 'banter' with the staff member involved.
Immediate Aftermath and Mounting Costs
Other guests rushed to help, pouring water on Mr Mendelson while a wheelchair was found. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he received an X-ray and a knee injection, for which he was charged 860 Euros.
The injury forced his family to delay their flight home. For the return journey, Mr Mendelson had to book two extra seats and wear a leg brace. Upon their return to the UK, an MRI scan revealed the full extent of the damage: a torn medial patellofemoral ligament that needed surgical intervention.
The family's ordeal was compounded when the hotel initially told them they had to pay for an extra night's stay due to the delayed departure. Mr Mendelson's mother threatened to contact global media, after which the hotel settled the bill.
Lasting Impact and Legal Battle
Mr Mendelson stated that his knee is "still not 100 per cent" following the surgery. He continues to experience occasional pain, particularly in cold weather, and has begun seeing a therapist weekly to deal with the mental impact of the event.
He was critical of the response from both the hotel and tour operator Tui, describing Tui's handling as "scatty, arrogant and dismissive." He urged hotel staff to respect guests' boundaries, noting that while animation teams are often friendly, this was "totally unacceptable."
Paul Rimmer, an accident abroad specialist who represented Mr Mendelson, called it an "extraordinary case" tantamount to physical assault by an employee. He criticised the hotel's initial demand for payment and Tui's "substandard" and sluggish support, warning of a growing trend where major tourism groups fail to care for customers in crisis.
A spokesperson for RIU Hotels and Resorts expressed regret, stating the incident "stemmed from a misguided attempt at a playful interaction" and was never intended to cause harm. They confirmed the matter has been fully investigated and settled.
The case serves as a stark reminder for holidaymakers to seek expert legal advice if they suffer an injury abroad.
