UKHSA Isolation Order Follows Salmonella Nightmare on TUI's £6,000 Jamaican Getaway
A British tourist has been instructed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to cease work and remain at home after contracting a serious bacterial infection during what was supposed to be a dream £6,000 holiday with TUI. The case highlights growing concerns over health and safety standards at some all-inclusive resorts.
'Disgusting' Food and a Dead Cockroach Ruin Anniversary Celebration
Tony Wallace, 59, from Portsmouth, fell critically ill with salmonella poisoning while celebrating his 38th wedding anniversary with his wife Alison, 57, at the Sunset at the Palms resort in Nigril, Jamaica. The couple, who had saved for years for the five-star, adults-only retreat, described the food as "disgusting," served from "silver troughs" and often reheated from previous meals. Their experience was further marred by discovering a dead cockroach inside their hotel room.
"On the 1st of July I fell ill... and I mean seriously ill - like collapsing," Mr Wallace recounted. "It was just horrendous. It ruined the whole holiday." He developed severe diarrhoea, dizziness, and stomach cramps so intense he feared fainting.
Inadequate On-Site Support and a Gruelling Journey Home
The situation worsened due to a lack of immediate medical facilities at the hotel. Staff reportedly offered only Pepto-Bismol from the shop and cautioned against a taxi to hospital, deeming it "dangerous." A TUI representative was unavailable, with the company's app reportedly down. The couple endured the remainder of their stay before a ten-hour flight home, during which Mr Wallace informed cabin crew of his frequent toilet visits. He was provided with Dioralyte and water by airline staff.
Upon returning to the UK, Mr Wallace attended A&E and later provided a stool sample. He subsequently received a directive from Portsmouth City Council and a confirmatory email from the UKHSA, identifying July 1st—while at the all-inclusive resort—as the point of infection. Salmonella is a potentially severe bacterial infection typically spread through contaminated food or water, causing painful symptoms that require urgent medical attention.
TUI's Response and a Broader Pattern of Illness
Mr Wallace claimed TUI refused a refund and suggested legal action, arguing the infection could have been contracted anywhere. However, the UKHSA's evidence pinpointed the hotel. "What more can you do when you've got photographic evidence and an email from the UKHSA?" he said. "I am absolutely disgusted with TUI. We've holidayed with them for years, but I've said now, take me off your records. I want nothing to do with this company whatsoever."
This incident follows reports of four British tourists dying while on TUI holidays in Cape Verde last year, among thousands alleging debilitating gastric illnesses. Families of those affected are seeking damages, prompting TUI to break its silence on the broader issue.
The case raises significant questions about duty of care, food hygiene standards at overseas resorts, and the support mechanisms available to holidaymakers when things go wrong. For now, Mr Wallace remains in recovery, his dream anniversary trip transformed into a costly and distressing ordeal.
