Doctors fight to save British woman’s liver after returning from four-star all-inclusive package to Egypt with suspected hepatitis

A British holidaymaker says doctors had to fight hard to save her life after she returned to Britain from a four-star package holiday in Egypt with hepatitis, which she claims was caused by poor hygiene by resort staff.

Olivia Hartley says she almost died after returning home from a £1,400 easyJet package holiday to Hurghada, Egypt, last September.

The 28-year-old, who lives in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, was on holiday at an all-inclusive four-star resort with her fiancé Thomas Winn, 31, for a week when the pair started feeling unwell.

On the plane ride home, Olivia said her partner Thomas vomited “six times” as she suffered from illness and diarrhea hours after returning home.

Unable to keep food or water down for three days, Olivia was hospitalized with dehydration. The doctors told her that her liver and kidney function were abnormal.

Olivia is convinced she caught the deadly virus from the hotel – and claims food hygiene at the resort was ‘terrible’

Doctors told Olivia it was “very likely” she was infected with Hepatitis A

Doctors told Olivia it was “highly likely” she was infected with Hepatitis A – a liver infection that spreads through the feces of an infected person.

Olivia is certain she contracted the deadly virus at the hotel. She claims food hygiene at the resort, which the couple declined to name, was “terrible.”

Medics were so concerned that they warned Olivia she may need a liver transplant if her condition does not improve.

Fortunately, Olivia has recovered, but she is still suffering the effects of the liver and kidney damage, and fears she may still need a transplant in the future.

Olivia, an assistant psychologist, said: ‘The food hygiene in the hotel was appalling. There were birds everywhere, the food was left out for a long time, they poured new food over old food that had been outside for hours.

‘On the last day, me and my fiancée both had strange tummies. On the plane home, my partner vomited about six times.

‘I was doing well at this point and then (48 hours after returning home) I started having vomiting and diarrhea. Then I got to the point where I couldn’t keep any liquids down at all. I was just throwing up everything. I had terrible stomach pains.’

Olivia Hartley says she almost died after returning home from £1,400 easyJet package holiday to Hurghada, Egypt

After three days in hospital, Olivia was discharged, but claims the liver and kidney damage left her with joint pain and fatigue

After three days of continuous vomiting, Olivia went to A&E at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, where tests showed her liver function was ‘impaired’ and needed urgent treatment.

Olivia said: ‘The doctors told me my liver was in a really bad condition and I have kidney damage from the dehydration.

‘They were very concerned about the liver results and concerned about the high hepatitis rates in Egypt. Despite all that, they said it’s very likely you have hepatitis. They were 99.9 percent sure I got it from the hotel.

‘They were very sure it was hepatitis and told me that if my liver doesn’t improve you’ll need an emergency liver transplant in Leeds, which was terrifying.

‘In my head I was thinking the worst. It was a very scary time. No one could fully agree on a treatment plan. I felt very vulnerable.

‘I was afraid I was going to die. I asked if I could go home and they said no. If you get organ failure you won’t make it to Leeds, it was very serious.’

Olivia said she was worried she might still need a liver transplant because of the disease she was suffering from

Olivia went to A&E at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, where tests showed her liver function was ‘disturbed’ and needed urgent treatment

After three days in hospital, Olivia was discharged, but she claims the liver and kidney damage has left her with joint pain and fatigue – with concerns she may still need a transplant in the future.

Olivia said: ‘This was going to be the holiday we really needed and it turned out to be an absolute nightmare. It has put me off taking package holidays. This was our first break since Covid – we really needed this break.

‘This turned out to be a hellish holiday for us. I have been referred to a liver specialist and will have regular liver tests to monitor how things are going.

‘I’ve heard from other people that once you have liver damage, it can get worse again out of nowhere. So if things go downhill again, I may still end up needing a liver transplant.”

A spokesperson for easyJet Holidays said: ‘We are really sorry to hear about this customer’s experience, and we are proactively reaching out to resolve their complaints now that they have been brought to our attention.

‘Our priority is to support our customers throughout their experience, from the booking process to their return home, and we want nothing more than to deliver a brilliant holiday.’