Latest news with #holidayaccident
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Sister pays tribute to drowned Briton who ‘died trying to save his friend'
The sister of a British man who drowned in Portugal has said he died trying to save his best friend's life. King Edonmi, 29, and Mo Liasu, 27, both from Ipswich, lost their lives less than 24 hours after arriving on holiday in Albufeira, on Portugal's southern coast. The pair are believed to have drowned in a hotel swimming pool on July 15. Candles, flowers and tealights spelling out the men's names have since been laid near flats on Ipswich Waterfront. Kemi Edonmi, King's sister, paid tribute to her brother online, writing: 'My best friend is really gone. 'Rest in peace to my big brother and his best friend Mo, we love you and will never forget you both. 'The whole family is comforted by the fact that King died in Christ. 'From Jesus – For Jesus – Back to Jesus. We shall all meet again.' She said King had died while trying to save Mo's life. 'My brother died trying to save his friend's life,' she said. Some local reports suggested the men had been drinking, but Ms Edonmi insisted this was not true. 'My brother and Mo do not drink and were not intoxicated at the time of the incident,' she wrote. 'Articles with false information and insensitive comments don't know the pain they're causing the people closest to King and Mo.' A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the families of two British men who have died in Portugal and are in contact with the local authorities.' A fundraising page launched in the men's memory has raised more than £22,000 to help pay for the repatriation of their bodies. It said: 'On what was meant to be a joyful holiday in Portugal, our two dear friends Mo and King tragically lost their lives less than 24 hours after arriving. 'What was supposed to be sunshine and laughter turned into heartbreak no one could have imagined.' The Policia Judiciaria, Portugal's criminal investigation police, said the incident is not being treated as suspicious. A spokesperson said: 'The inspection of the scene revealed no evidence of criminal activity. 'Witnesses to the events were interviewed, confirming the investigation's belief that it was an accident.'
BBC News
13-07-2025
- BBC News
Cockermouth holidaymaker suing TUI over quad bike crash
A father-of-three is suing holiday provider TUI at the High Court after he claims a quad bike crash left him feeling as though he was "not the same person".Tony Holliday, 57, who lives near Cockermouth in Cumbria, needed operations after the bike crashed into rocks while on holiday in Cape Verde in is seeking £500,000 in damages claiming the excursion, which was provided as compensation for lost luggage, was misrepresented as suitable for beginners and did not have adequate safety is understood to be opposing the claim and is due to file its defence later this year. Mr Holliday said he needed two operations on his fractured right leg and also suffered head, shoulder and hand injuries, after he was thrown from the vehicle."I'm not the same person I was. I have anxiety, I struggle sleeping at night, going over the same accident, or similar events like that," he told the PA news agency. 'Inadequate instruction' The family flew to Sal, Cape Verde, on 1 March 2023 for a week-long holiday costing £4, court documents filed by law firm Stewarts, which is representing Mr Holliday, Sarah Prager KC said that on arrival, the family found their luggage had been lost, although it was later then found their rooms "smelled very strongly of sewage", and replacement rooms were Prager said TUI representatives offered a free excursion to compensate and recommended quad biking, claiming this was "suitable for total beginners".She said the accident was caused by the route being "unsuitable for beginners", Mr Holliday and his family being given "wholly inadequate instructions", and the quad bike being "defective". A spokesperson for TUI said: "We are sorry that Mr Holliday was injured during his holiday to Cape Verde."As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to comment any further at this time." Additional reporting by PA Media. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
12-07-2025
- The Independent
Traveller urges others to take precautions on excursions after quad bike crash
A holidaymaker who is suing provider Tui at the High Court following a quad bike crash has warned tourists to take precautions while on excursions abroad after he suffered serious injuries which 'should never have happened'. Tony Holliday, who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, required two operations on his right leg after he collided with rocks and was thrown from a quad bike while on an excursion in Cape Verde in March 2023. The property developer travelled to the island, off the coast of west Africa, with his wife, Bev, and two of his daughters, Keeley and Rhianna. The 57-year-old, from Cockermouth, Cumbria, is suing Tui UK, claiming it misrepresented the nature of the excursion and was negligent, and is seeking more than £500,000 in damages. Tui is understood to be opposing the claim and is due to file its defence at the High Court later this year. Speaking to the PA news agency, he urged travellers to take precautions while abroad. He said: 'Please check everything. If something doesn't feel right… take the full checks, make sure everything's there (and) the health and safety looks like it's in place.' He continued: 'We asked questions at the time but were not given the correct answers.' Mrs Holliday, 54, said: 'Make sure that you've got the right insurance in place, that you're going through your tour operator, and just think carefully about the excursions that you take your family on and that you go on, and just to try and look out for things that we didn't see.' The family agreed to go on the free quad bike excursion as compensation for issues with lost luggage and rooms smelling of sewage earlier in the trip. In court documents filed by law firm Stewarts, which is representing Mr Holliday, Sarah Prager KC said that Tui staff described the excursion as 'suitable for total beginners', despite the company saying online that it was an 'off-road adventure', an 'action-packed excursion', and 'four adrenaline-pumping hours' on 'very powerful machines'. Mr Holliday believed the excursion was provided by Tui but later found out it was organised by a local provider. Mr Holliday continues to suffer from anxiety and issues with sleep following the incident, and said he 'feels a second slower than where I should be'. He said: 'Although I went through it, I didn't witness what my family had to witness, and I don't think they'll ever get that image out of their head. 'So it's not just me who has suffered. I think the full family has suffered through this. 'It should never have happened.' Mrs Holliday said: 'It's really strange when you've got a partner who has no fear… he gets himself out there and he loves the challenge, work-wise. 'It's really strange to then find yourself in the position where he hasn't got that confidence any more, and your life completely changes. 'He will get back, he will get back to where he is. We'll make sure he does.' Chris Deacon, international injury lawyer at Stewarts, said: 'Sadly, every year I see cases like Tony's, of people sustaining serious, life-changing injuries on holiday excursions. ' One of the key factors which influences whether a person can bring a compensation claim for their injuries is how the excursion (is) booked. 'This is because booking your excursion through your tour operator as part of your package holiday brings with it certain protections under the package travel regulations. 'If you book through a small, local provider, there is a risk they won't be insured, fully or at all, with no safeguard that the tour operator may have risk assessed the provider or activity, and the added complication of potentially having to bring your legal case in a foreign jurisdiction. 'What is also worth knowing is that many travel insurance policies exclude high-risk activities such as quad biking, parachuting, bungee jumping and certain watersports. 'So even if you have travel insurance, don't assume it will cover you for everything.' A spokesperson for Tui said: 'We are sorry that Mr Holliday was injured during his holiday to Cape Verde. 'As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to comment any further at this time.'
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Traveller urges others to take precautions on excursions after quad bike crash
A holidaymaker who is suing provider Tui at the High Court following a quad bike crash has warned tourists to take precautions while on excursions abroad after he suffered serious injuries which 'should never have happened'. Tony Holliday, who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, required two operations on his right leg after he collided with rocks and was thrown from a quad bike while on an excursion in Cape Verde in March 2023. The property developer travelled to the island, off the coast of west Africa, with his wife, Bev, and two of his daughters, Keeley and Rhianna. The 57-year-old, from Cockermouth, Cumbria, is suing Tui UK, claiming it misrepresented the nature of the excursion and was negligent, and is seeking more than £500,000 in damages. Tui is understood to be opposing the claim and is due to file its defence at the High Court later this year. Speaking to the PA news agency, he urged travellers to take precautions while abroad. He said: 'Please check everything. If something doesn't feel right… take the full checks, make sure everything's there (and) the health and safety looks like it's in place.' He continued: 'We asked questions at the time but were not given the correct answers.' Mrs Holliday, 54, said: 'Make sure that you've got the right insurance in place, that you're going through your tour operator, and just think carefully about the excursions that you take your family on and that you go on, and just to try and look out for things that we didn't see.' The family agreed to go on the free quad bike excursion as compensation for issues with lost luggage and rooms smelling of sewage earlier in the trip. In court documents filed by law firm Stewarts, which is representing Mr Holliday, Sarah Prager KC said that Tui staff described the excursion as 'suitable for total beginners', despite the company saying online that it was an 'off-road adventure', an 'action-packed excursion', and 'four adrenaline-pumping hours' on 'very powerful machines'. Mr Holliday believed the excursion was provided by Tui but later found out it was organised by a local provider. Mr Holliday continues to suffer from anxiety and issues with sleep following the incident, and said he 'feels a second slower than where I should be'. He said: 'Although I went through it, I didn't witness what my family had to witness, and I don't think they'll ever get that image out of their head. 'So it's not just me who has suffered. I think the full family has suffered through this. 'It should never have happened.' Mrs Holliday said: 'It's really strange when you've got a partner who has no fear… he gets himself out there and he loves the challenge, work-wise. 'It's really strange to then find yourself in the position where he hasn't got that confidence any more, and your life completely changes. 'He will get back, he will get back to where he is. We'll make sure he does.' Chris Deacon, international injury lawyer at Stewarts, said: 'Sadly, every year I see cases like Tony's, of people sustaining serious, life-changing injuries on holiday excursions. 'One of the key factors which influences whether a person can bring a compensation claim for their injuries is how the excursion (is) booked. 'This is because booking your excursion through your tour operator as part of your package holiday brings with it certain protections under the package travel regulations. 'If you book through a small, local provider, there is a risk they won't be insured, fully or at all, with no safeguard that the tour operator may have risk assessed the provider or activity, and the added complication of potentially having to bring your legal case in a foreign jurisdiction. 'What is also worth knowing is that many travel insurance policies exclude high-risk activities such as quad biking, parachuting, bungee jumping and certain watersports. 'So even if you have travel insurance, don't assume it will cover you for everything.' A spokesperson for Tui said: 'We are sorry that Mr Holliday was injured during his holiday to Cape Verde. 'As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to comment any further at this time.'
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'I fell from a balcony during lads' holiday in Ayia Napa and I've been in hospital in agony for weeks, with nightmares every night and I can't walk. I was an idiot - this is my warning to others'
A holidaymaker who fell from his balcony while on a lads holiday to Ayia Napa has warned other tourists to be prepared for the worst. Sam Hudson, 24, had been partying with his brother and a pal at the resort town when he tumbled from the second floor of his hotel while drunk. The single dad said he is 'absolutely kicking myself' at not taking out travel insurance because of the hefty hospital bill he has been left with as doctors have been desperately trying to mend his broken back, pelvis and leg. 'I know I was an idiot,' he told MailOnline. But the decorator from Lincoln said that wouldn't have even made a difference as he had drunk more than four pints and would not be covered. 'It's just not something you'd think about', he explained. He also advised all travellers make sure they had a Global Health Insurance Card before jetting off. Mr Hudson, who has a two-year-old son, left a pool party alone on June 15 when a passerby spotted him trying to walk between balconies at the Anmaria Beach Hotel, where he was staying. It is believed he was trying to reach his brother's room - which was next door - but Mr Hudson says he can't remember anything before the fall. 'I don't even remember falling, it's just a blur. I haven't got a clue to be honest why I was walking between balconies, I'd never done something like that before. 'Apparently I went to another hospital before this one but I don't remember that either. 'Its scary that I can't remember anything but I would get awful nightmares at the beginning. 'My first memory is being on all these machines but I've tried to block out all that stuff because I was in so much pain.' The passerby phoned the emergency services when they saw Mr Hudson plunge from the balcony. He was then rushed to a local clinic, Famagusta hospital in Paralimni, before being transferred to the biggest hospital on the island, Nicosia General Hospital. Doctors said at the time Mr Hudson, who was in 'unimaginable pain', was 'lucky to be alive'. They operated on his pelvis a week ago. 'It's been getting better since the operation, I can finally get up and I spent an hour in the wheelchair today, but I'm still in absolute agony which is to be expected since I've been laying down for so long,' Mr Hudson said. 'I've been going stir crazy, there's only so many things you can watch on Netflix. I zone out now I hardly even watch it anymore. 'I also miss my son so much, I FaceTime him a couple times a day but he's too little to understand why I'm not there. I hope I can see him when I leave hospital.' He said he didn't regret going on this trip but wished others would not have to go through what he has had to go through. 'I will not be going on another lad's holiday though,' he said and revealed that he will only stay in rooms on the ground floor. 'I'm definitely scared of heights now.' His brother, Nathan, and their friend only discovered the terrifying accident when they returned to the hotel where they were met by police waiting in the lobby. Mr Hudson's stepmother, Karen, and her husband flew out the next day to be with their son and have had to fly back and forth while trying to manage their business. 'You just go totally numb, it was the worst phone call you could get. Your mind goes straight for the worst,' Mrs Hudson told MailOnline. The 'devastated' family have set up a GoFundMe to cover health costs after they were faced with paying for a repatriation plane - which costs around £16,000 - or staying in Cyprus for the duration of Mr Hudson's recovery. Nathan is said to be in shock after seeing his brother in hospital and was unable to eat or sleep immediately after the accident. Ms Hudson said: 'You know what young boys are like but I never could have predicted something like this would happen. 'Doctors at the hospital have said he's lucky to be alive or to not have more severe damage. 'Even though the balcony is second floor, the hotel is on a slope and there's a restaurant too, so it's more like the fourth floor. 'If the passerby hadn't seen him, Sam could have been lying there for much longer because their room was at the back of the hotel. She added: 'We told him so many times before he left that he needed to get travel insurance but he didn't listen. 'I want the government to make it a legal requirement that all young people must have travel insurance before travelling because I don't another family to have to go through what we have. 'I've heard of families having to remortgage their house or sell their car to cover costs of accidents like this - all because they didn't think to take out insurance.' The cops have launched an investigation into the circumstances.
