Mother, 30, slams TUI over holiday salmonella 'hell' in Dominican Republic after children, five and nine, become ill at hotel and fail to get better at 'rip-off' hospital before family 'are stopped at gunpoint when they try to leave'

  • Billie Baker and Reiss Monksfield say they endured holiday from hell with TUI
  • After just one day at Spa Resort in Dominican Republic their children fell ill
  • Parents claim kids vomited blood, were 'deliberately' kept in hospital for profit
  • They claim armed guards prevented them from leaving the hospital until they contacted British Embassy and their insurance company sent ambulances
  • TUI say they're sorry family were unwell during holiday, are investigating claims

By Keiligh Baker for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

A family claims a TUI holiday turned into 'hell' after two of their children contracted salmonella and were not properly treated at a 'rip off' hospital where armed security guards refused to let them leave. 

Billie Baker and Reiss Monksfield from Wickford, Essex, had only been at The Sunscape and Spa Resort for one day when two of their three children Sienna, five, Karis, nine and Tommy, 12, were rushed to A&E with high temperatures and diarrhoea. 

Now the furious parents claim their children vomited blood and were 'deliberately' kept in hospital for profit. They say their children have been plagued with flashbacks as instead of enjoying a Caribbean paradise they were trapped on IV drips.

A family claims a TUI holiday turned hellish after two of their children contracted salmonella (Pictured: Billie Baker and Reiss Monksfield and their three children)

Tommy
Sienna

The family claim their children and were not properly treated at a 'rip off' hospital where armed security guards refused to let them leave. Pictured: Tommy and Sienna in hospital

The family also allege firm TUI have 'fobbed them off' and they are yet to receive any response after their nightmare in the Dominican Republic.  

A TUI spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We are very sorry to hear that Ms Baker’s family were unwell during their holiday. 

'We are investigating this claim further and will be in contact with the customer directly. 

'We’d like to reassure customers that we regularly audit all of the hotels we feature in respect of health and safety, including hygiene.’ 

The furious parents claim their children vomited blood and were 'deliberately' kept in hospital for profit. Pictured: Billie with her sick daughter Sienna in hospital

The furious parents claim their children vomited blood and were 'deliberately' kept in hospital for profit. Pictured: Billie with her sick daughter Sienna in hospital

Ms Baker claims doctors were only interested in the medical bill and the ill youngsters did not get better after more than a day of treatment.

She said: 'After arriving [in hospital] it was clear the priority for them was the cost of the medical bill. After 36 hours of IV fluids and medication, they weren't getting any better.

Eventually the couple's insurance company sent two ambulances to take them to another hospital, where a diagnosis of salmonella was confirmed 

Eventually the couple's insurance company sent two ambulances to take them to another hospital, where a diagnosis of salmonella was confirmed 

'They hadn't eaten for three days, couldn't keep fluids down and both began to vomit blood and had blood in their stools.

'Our youngest daughter couldn't walk, talk or even hold her head up, and it was at this point we started to question the doctors and nurses.'

When the worried family tried to leave weapon-wielding guards blocked the exits and the pair were forced to contact the BritishEmbassy.

Eventually the couple's insurance company sent two ambulances to take them to another hospital, where a diagnosis of salmonella was confirmed.

Ms Baker added: 'A TUI rep visited us in hospital but shrugged the whole thing off.

'We had to pay for our flights to leave a week early and they tried to make us sign a blank form which we refused.

'We have followed their complaints procedure but aren't getting anywhere with them. We have all suffered so much, my middle daughter has been having nightmares.

'It really was the holiday from hell, and was like living a real life horror film.' 

Ms Baker claims: 'A TUI rep visited us in hospital but shrugged the whole thing off'

Ms Baker claims: 'A TUI rep visited us in hospital but shrugged the whole thing off'

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