Brit tourist’s family say they’re ‘grateful he’s alive’ after Egypt ‘holiday from hell’ saw him dislocate shoulder on ‘unsupervised’ water slide then suffer gastric illness that left him with internal bleeding
- Anthony Baker and nephew Corbin fell ill at the start of the holiday
A British tourist’s family say they are grateful he’s alive after an Egypt ‘holiday from hell’ saw him injure his shoulder on a water slide and then suffer from gastric illness that left him with internal bleeding.
Anthony Baker first dislocated his shoulder while going down a water slide with his nephew Corbin at the five-star Jaz Makadi Aquaviva Hotel in the resort of Hurghada.
The family claim the slide was unsupervised at the time and Anthony, 56, was injured when the inflatable boat he was in bounced violently over a bump in the ride.
His sister Sharon said she had to jump into the water to rescue her stricken brother as there were no lifeguards around.
She said: ‘The holiday was meant to be a relaxing break for the family. I could never have imagined things could turn out the way they did … Sadly, it turned into the holiday from hell.
Anthony Baker eating a meal at the hotel after dislocating his arm
Anthony and his nephew Corbin Baker (circled) on the slide
Anthony in hospital back in the UK
‘I am just so thankful my brother is still alive.’
Speaking about the ‘horrifying’ turn of events during their two-week stay, Sharon claims that the swimming pool was largely ‘unsupervised’ and they waited for two minutes before hotel staff arrived on the scene of her brother’s accident.
She said: ‘The staff always seemed so rushed off their feet.
‘When it happened I dropped everything and rushed to support my brother’s shoulder while other guests calmed Corbin down.’
The family extended their holiday by a week because of the time they lost while Anthony was in hospital.
But during their stay at the neighbouring Jaz Makadi Saraya Hotel Anthony and Corbin, 14, were struck down by a severe gastric illness.
Anthony suffered stomach cramps and severe diarrhoea and had to be put on a drip. He was bed-bound in his hotel room for six days.
Sharon, 51, said that Anthony and Corbin fell ill during a meal within hours of arriving at the Jaz Makadi Saraya Hotel.
She said: ‘Both Corbin and Anthony started to feel really unwell, with stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
‘Even then it was clear Anthony was in a bad way. The doctor came and after some treatment he seemed to stabilise, but he was still visibly very unwell.
‘That was the end of the holiday from then on, it was just trying to get well enough to be able to board a flight home. I’m still not quite sure how Anthony managed to fly home because of his symptoms.’
Anthony and his nephew Corbin Baker
Anthony celebrating his birthday in hospital back in the UK
Upon returning to the UK, Anthony collapsed at his home in Dorchester, Dorset, and was rushed to hospital.
He was found to have stomach inflammation and internal bleeding that required blood transfusions and antibiotics.
Sharon said: ‘Corbin managed to recover. But Anthony seemed to suffer a relapse and it was terrifying when he collapsed at home.
‘I remember seeing him on the floor struggling to breathe and looking grey. The doctors gave Anthony an awful lot of blood which later resulted in a blood clot.’
The family allege that Anthony was given the wrong medication in Egypt, which resulted in the later bout of gastritis.
He spent a month in hospital recovering.
The family are taking legal action against TUI over Anthony’s dislocated left shoulder and his illness.
They are seeking compensation following their ‘horrible experience’ on holiday from April 17 to May 2 this year.
TUI has been approached for comment.