Holidaymakers have reported a severe virus outbreak at a four-star resort in Turkey, with images showing ambulances outside and reports of babies, children and adults hospitalised by a sudden illness. One holidaymaker claimed there were 28 cases of what they suspect to be a bacterial or gastroenteritis bug at the Club Mermaid Village hotel resort, near Alanya.
A family from Failsworth in Oldham, Greater Manchester, revealed that they've been confined to their room for days and advised not to use the hotel's swimming pools. They also mentioned avoiding food at the all-inclusive resort.
Another tourist expressed her fear that her seven-year-old daughter "was going to die", describing how the child "went yellow" before being rushed to a hospital in Alanya and put on a drip. It is believed that a pregnant woman and several infants have also received treatment in hospital.
The Manchester Evening News (MEN) has gained access to a WhatsApp group used by families to share their horrifying experiences. Many stated they paid over £2,500 for 10-night stays. The WhatsApp group, which includes more than 20 members, features photos of Turkish medics treating tourists in their rooms at the resort, multiple ambulances outside the hotel, and children in hospital beds hooked up to drips.
Sade Ingram, 32, who was holidaying with her two daughters aged nine and seven, shared a picture of Phoebe, her seven-year-old, in a hospital bed.
Sade, hailing from Sheffield, recounted her harrowing experience: "We have all had what we think is a gastro bug. My seven year old was hospitalised and I was too. I thought that she was going to die. She was so dehydrated that she was hallucinating. She was really yellow."
"They put her on a couple of drips, anti-sickness medication and antibiotics. The hospital has been marvellous. Lots of other people have been ill. We made the hotel aware, but no one would listen. The doctors have told the hotel that it needs to quarantine. I was at reception when a doctor told them to do that."
"We have seen ambulances in abundance. There has been at least 20 here together with the police over the days."
After being cooped up in their rooms for days and resorting to eating noodles bought from a nearby shop instead of risking the hotel food, Sade was set to fly back home with her kids today - Thursday - wrapping up their 10-day holiday.
Describing the hotel's condition, she said, "It's truly beyond disgusting," alleging that her room remained uncleaned after they all fell sick.
Sade also claimed that several hotel staff members were ill yet continued to serve food.
"If there was an apology and an attempt to contain the spread then I would not have blamed them, as illnesses happen. However, the lack of remorse or compassion for my children and for the other people here, including elderly and pregnant people, has shocked me," she expressed in the group. "I'm beyond disgusted. I really thought that we were going to die here."
"My daughter took longer to pull through, but she was in a much worse state than me. After the first case was reported the hotel should have made an effort to contain the illness, which was not done."
Another holidaymaker, struck down by illness, lamented that they had to blow 'the majority' of their spending dough on simple snacks like noodles and bottled water from the on-site shop due to the sickness.
Yet another guest described how their family's holiday joy turned sour: "We were enjoying our time the first few days, then it got progressively worse. Now we're literally sat in our room as we have been for the last couple of days just waiting it out until we go home."
Failsworth lass Ceri George, 36, forked out roughly £2,500 for a dream 10-day getaway with her hubby, their little ones aged eight months and nine years, plus her teenage step-daughter. The smallest member of their clan has a delicate immune system, making the situation more serious.
Ceri shared their ordeal, revealing that her family spent most of their trip cooped up indoors: "We have spent the last four days in our room," and noted that several other guests are hospital-bound due to a nasty gastro bug sweeping the resort, leaving others too petrified to venture outdoors. With the hotel seemingly washing their hands of the issue, many are desperately eyeing up early flights home despite exorbitant costs.
She added: "We were okay after a couple of days but around day two or three, we started to speak to other families and they said they were starting to feel sick and unwell."
Recounting the shocking series of events at their resort, one holidaymaker said: "Then we saw ambulances coming up. A lot of families have been taken to hospital and put on drips. A lot of families are on medication."
Elaborating on the health crisis that unfolded, the traveller added: "On Sunday night, there was an eight month-old baby and a four year-old who were admitted to hospital and put on drips. There was also a pregnant girl who was admitted to hospital. She was very, very poorly. Since people have fallen ill, we haven't eaten any of the food. We were told to stay out of the pool. A lot of families are home now but are still ill.
"We have been told that there have been 28 reported cases in three days. I think some of the staff have been poorly as well. We have all seen ambulance coming and going."
Sade, who booked with Manchester-based travel company On the Beach, and Ceri, who arranged through loveholidays, have expressed their intent to seek answers.
Offering a response from one of the travel firms, an On the Beach spokesperson addressed the Ingram family's ordeal: "We're sorry that the Ingram family have felt unwell on holiday. We take all claims of sickness seriously and are investigating with the hotel. Separately, we have offered a gesture of goodwill to reflect some of the hotel issues identified, and we're sorry for the inconvenience caused. This offer has been accepted."