Toddler’s Near-Fatal Allergic Reaction on Family Holiday Results in £1,500 Compensation

A family holiday to Portugal turned into a nightmare for the Wilkinson family when two-year-old Zach Wilkinson suffered a severe allergic reaction after consuming contaminated food at a resort. Despite the family’s careful warnings about Zach’s egg allergy, the hotel failed to follow proper procedures, leading to an incident that could have had tragic consequences.

The Wilkinson family, from Houghton-le-Spring, had booked an all-inclusive week at the Jupiter Albufeira Hotel through Jet2 Holidays, arriving on June 17, 2023. Upon arrival, Luke Wilkinson, Zach’s father, filled out an allergy form and explicitly informed hotel staff that Zach had a serious egg allergy, requesting that his food be prepared separately.

On June 23, during lunch at the hotel’s restaurant, Zach was served a vegetable burger that had been contaminated with eggs due to cross-contamination in the kitchen. Moments after eating, Zach developed a severe allergic reaction, showing alarming symptoms such as a red, blotchy rash, swelling, and a purple discolouration of his face and lips.

Zach’s parents immediately rushed him to Hospital Lusíadas Albufeira, where he received an emergency injection of atropine before being transferred to a larger hospital for further treatment. Zach remained under observation for 24 hours before stabilising.

Luke Wilkinson described the ordeal as deeply traumatic, saying: “We did everything we could to make sure the hotel knew about Zach’s allergy, but they still put his life at risk. Watching our son struggle to breathe and knowing it could have been avoided was terrifying.”

Following the incident, the Wilkinson family pursued legal action against Jet2 Holidays with the help of Mr Michael Walker, partner and acting solicitor here at Holiday Claims Bureau. Mr Walker argued that Jet2 Holidays had breached their duty of care under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 by failing to properly communicate Zach’s dietary requirements to the hotel’s kitchen staff.

Mr Walker commented on the case: “This was a clear failure on the part of Jet2 Holidays and the hotel staff. They were informed about Zach’s allergy and still neglected to follow basic food safety procedures. This case highlights the importance of strict adherence to allergy protocols, especially in environments like hotels, where cross-contamination can be life-threatening.”

As a result of the legal action, the Wilkinson family has received £1,500 in compensation. Although they are relieved to have received justice, the family remains shaken by the experience.

Luke Wilkinson reflected on the outcome: “While we’re thankful Zach made a full recovery, the trauma of that day will stay with us for a long time. The £1,500 compensation can’t undo what happened, but it’s a small measure of accountability. We just hope that by raising awareness, other families won’t have to go through the same ordeal.”

Medical reports confirmed that Zach suffered no lasting physical effects from the allergic reaction, but the emotional impact on the family has been significant. The allergic reaction compensation will help cover the additional expenses incurred during their extended hospital visits and travel disruptions.

Allergic Reaction Compensation Claims

At Holiday Claims Bureau, our team of specialist allergic reaction claims solicitors handle thousands of pounds worth of compensation for food allergy claim victims every year. If you, or a loved one, has suffered symptoms of an allergic reaction caused due to the negligence of a restuarant, hotel or holiday resort here in the UK, or overseas, we can help you to make a successful food allergy claim.

For more information and to receive expert legal advice and representation, start your claim today. Call us directly on 0161 813 2131, talk to a legal expert via live chat or complete the online contact form to request a callback.

We are on your side and here to help you claim the maximum compensation you are legally entitled to, as quickly as possible.