Tony Holliday/Scala/PA MediaA 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 2023.
He 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 instructions.
TUI 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 £4,166.72.
In 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 found.
They then found their rooms “smelled very strongly of sewage”, and replacement rooms were offered.
Ms 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.
