Our honeymoon hell in Turkey
A PREGNANT newlywed and her husband had a "nightmare honeymoon" after they caught salmonella while staying at a Turkish hotel.
Heather Young, 22, of First Lane, Hessle, spoke of her fears for their unborn child after she came down with the illness.
They were staying at the ill-fated Holiday Village in Sarigerme, Turkey.
As reported in the Mail recently, hundreds of holidaymakers are believed to have contracted salmonella in a recent outbreak at the resort.
Many are now seeking compensation from tour operator First Choice.
Heather and her husband Andrew married at Beverley Registry Office and had been looking forward to a relaxing, all-inclusive break at the hotel.
Andrew and Heather, who was six-months pregnant, flew out on Friday, August 28.
By the Saturday, Andrew was already suffering from diarrhoea and excruciating stomach cramps.
Heather fell ill the next day and continued to suffer the symptoms until she arrived back in England a week later.
She said: "It was terrible. We were worried for each other because we didn't know what it was.
"We were especially worried because I was pregnant. It was only after I went to see my doctor at home that I was told it wouldn't affect the baby.
"You expect to go away and enjoy yourself on honeymoon. Instead, we had to be within running distance of the toilet in our room the whole time. We didn't even make it to the beach."
Heather's local doctor has now confirmed she did have salmonella. Her husband also plans to have the test done.
The couple are now back at work and looking forward to the arrival of their child.
But they are among those seeking compensation from First Choice.
Mrs Young said: "It was quite a shock to hear that they already knew something was going round when we first arrived at the hotel.
"We would have preferred them to cancel our honeymoon than go through what we did."
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by Chicken Jalfrezi, Hull
Thursday, September 25 2008, 3:10PM
“Re. people writing nasty, old fashioned comments! you dont expect to go to a 4* all inclusive and catch salmonella, fair enough a dicky tummy! and yes you would expect some compensation. It is not the fact she is pregnant as you can fly quite safely up to 28wks! and also you have failed to read that the food poisoning will not affect her unborn child, I hardly think it is fair to suggest that they are irresonsible parents just because they went on holiday. Also, Mr and Mrs Young must have paid for their own holiday as it clearly states they are now back at work! and insinuating that a women is a lesser humanbeing because she is pregnant before she is married is just pathetic in this day and age! read the facts and know what you are talking about! its funny how most of these comments are from men!”
by julia vaughan, staffordhshire
Wednesday, September 24 2008, 1:39PM
“my mum came back from holiday village turkey last friday 19/09/08 she is now in staffordshire university hospital recovering from salmonella. please do not go to this place if you have booked. it will only be a matter of time before someone dies.”
by Bill, Work
Wednesday, September 24 2008, 12:28PM
“I agree with Brian”
by samantha, hull
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 7:37PM
“She was pregnant not at deaths door. WHY is there this bizzare attitude that pregnant women cant live normal lives?
When my mum was preganat with me she was working in a Bingo Hall upto 6 weeks before i was born.
Pregnantcy is NOT a disabilty and its not a handicap or a reason to wrap women in cotton wool. Women have been pregnant and living perfectly normal lives for years. The fact she had food poisoning is'nt her fault and she could easily do that in this country.”
by Kate, Beverley
Tuesday, September 23 2008, 6:39PM
“Have to agree that travelling beyond 6 months into your pregnancy is not a great idea, particularly somewhere like Turkey (beautiful country, but you are more likely to be ill, like Tunisia!)
I don;t think they deserve all the nasty comments though. So she had a bun in the oven when they married...big deal! Most of your parents probably did too! Times change.”