'We want answers' Family say holiday abroad was ruined after son caught serious bug

A mother and father are demanding answers after claiming their summer holiday was "ruined" when their young son caught a serious bug - which turned out to be E.coli.

Keegan-Rhys Vickers developed symptoms including sickness and diarrhoea days into the family break, becoming so bad he was taken to hospital after returning home.

Keegan-Rhys Vickers developed symptoms including sickness and diarrhoea days into the family break, becoming so bad he was taken to hospital after returning home.

Subsequent tests confirmed he had caught the wretched bacterial infection.

His parents, Natalie Bennett, 37, and Carl Vickers, 40, say they spotted undercooked food and poor hygiene while staying at the Hotel Marvel Sunny Beach in Bulgaria.

is parents, Natalie Bennett, 37, and Carl Vickers, 40, say they spotted undercooked food and poor hygiene while staying at the Hotel Marvel Sunny Beach in Bulgaria.

They have now instructed a specialist team to investigate the source of the bug after having their break spoiled.

Keegan Rhys fell ill five days into the two-week trip, which began on August 10 last year.

He was then given specialist treatment upon his return home to Swansea, Wales - leaving his mum and dad in distress.

Keegan Rhys fell ill five days into the two-week trip, which began on August 10 last year.

Natalie said: "It was absolutely awful and really difficult to see Keegan-Rhys struggling so much.

"We hoped it would just pass, however his illness seemed to get even worse by the time we were home so we knew he needed hospital treatment.

"No parent should have to see their child struggle in such a way and I was stunned when the illness was confirmed as E.coli.

"When you go on holiday you never expect something like that to happen."

"We had noticed some issues at the resort, with some of the food being cold and seemingly undercooked.

"The swimming pool also did not always seem like the cleanest, while there were cracked tiles and mould in our bathroom too.

"We are upset and frustrated at how things turned out. Keegan-Rhys should not have had to go through that.

"We want answers as to how this could have happened, as we would not want other families to have their holidays ruined as we did."

Natalie and Carl have now instructed laywers from the firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate how their son contracted the illness.

Jatinder Paul, senior associate solicitor and expert lawyer, said: "The family are understandably frustrated by everything they have been through and remain very concerned by the problems faced by young Keegan-Rhys.

"Through our work, we have seen first-hand on many occasions how serious E.coli can be and we feel that the issues Keegan-Rhys faced cannot be downplayed.

"We are determined to help the family gain the answers we feel they deserve regarding what they have been through.

"If any hygiene issues are identified it is important that lessons are learned to prevent others having their holiday ruined by similar issues."