Jess Battison
A grandad died after he ate half-cooked chicken while on holiday at a luxury four-star resort.
Leslie Green was celebrating his 70th birthday with a stay at the Occidental Jandia Playa resort in the Canary Island of Fuerteventura.
His wife Julie says the man had only eaten from the hotel buffet during their trip and both of them had contracted salmonella.
During the second week of the £2,300 family holiday, the man from Bolton fell ill on 9 October with symptoms including diarrhoea, which led to dehydration.
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He was seen by the in-resort doctor a few days later and then taken by ambulance to the local clinic to be given fluids. Leslie’s health did not improve, and he was admitted to hospital on 13 October.
His condition did not improve, and he was admitted to hospital the following day. Here the grandad developed complications, including sepsis, pneumonia and kidney failure and was placed in an induced coma.
As he continued to deteriorate, doctors said they could do nothing further for him and he died on 4 November, hours after his life-support machine was switched off.
An inquest found Leslie died of multi-organ failure as a result of sepsis, caused by salmonella.
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With Julie also spending a week in hospital as she was seriously ill, she said the couple had concerns a carbonara sauce they ate one day was lukewarm, while she found her chicken undercooked during another meal.
Having been celebrating her 60th birthday the day she got salmonella, she claimed she didn’t see any staff washing their hands and that newly cooked food would be mixed with food already on the buffet.
Speaking after the hearing, she said her husband of 38 years was her ‘best friend and life without him will never be the same.'
“I still struggle to comprehend how we went on holiday, but Leslie didn’t come home,” she added. "Leslie was the head of our family and someone everyone looked to for help and guidance. There’s now a gaping hole in our family that can never be filled.”
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Jennifer Hodgson, an international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Julie, said: “Julie and the rest of her family remain devastated by Leslie’s death and the circumstances surrounding it.
“Understandably they’ve had a number of concerns about how Leslie contracted his infection. Sadly, the inquest has validated their concerns, hearing worrying evidence.
“What happened to Leslie vividly highlights the impact of salmonella and why it, and other gastric illnesses, should never be downplayed.
“While nothing can make up for the ordeal Julie and her family have been through, it’s now vital that lessons are learned to improve hygiene for other holidaymakers in the future. We continue to support Julie at this distressing time.”
Julie added: “I just hope that by speaking out I can prevent anyone else suffering like Leslie did. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
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LADbible has contacted the Occidental Jandia Playa for comment.