A holidaymaker who suffered salmonella food poisoning while visiting a five star hotel in Jamaica has received a significant sum in compensation.

Daryl Wiseman, 33, from Heathcote in Warwick, instructed Thompsons Solicitors to sue Direct Holidays when he lost two stone in two weeks after becoming sick at the Gran Bahia Principle Runaway Bay Resort in Jamaica in August 2007.

He decided to pursue compensation after he was unable to get a promise from the hotel or holiday company that they would look into how he had become sick.

Direct Holidays, now owned by Thomas Cook, settled the claim out of court, but did not admit liability.

Daryl was on a two week break with his wife, two young children and two friends when he fell ill on day 12 of the holiday.

He said they hadn’t eaten outside the five star all-inclusive hotel during their stay, but just days before returning home he became ill.

He was able to fly home, but was then ill for the next four months. He still suffers from long term side effects and he now has to be careful about the type of food he eats.

Horrible end to what was an amazing holiday

He said: “It was a horrible end to what was an amazing holiday. I couldn’t help but think about what would have happened if it had been my children. I was also worried that someone else’s children catch it in the future.

“My daughter was only four at the time and if she had become ill she didn’t have two stone to lose. That is why I decided to contact Thompsons Solicitors. I wanted to make sure the hotel and Direct Holidays did something about it.”

He added: “Before I became ill I had a good diet, but was able to eat anything I liked. Now I have to watch everything I eat. Spicy food was always my favourite but now I’ll only ever eat it in moderation.”

He instructed Thompsons Solicitors after being unable to get a satisfactory response from Direct Holidays or the hotel.

Sarah Wilkinson from Thompsons Solicitors said: “When families book an all-inclusive holiday like this they expect to return home refreshed and recharged. For Daryl and his family their dream holiday was turned into a nightmare.

“Throughout this case Thomas Cook denied liability, but after two years of persevering we were able to secure a settlement.”