Peanut allergy sufferer, 19, collapsed and died after eating snack at Turkey holiday hotel, family allege

Now the family of Idris Qayyum, of West London have launched a legal claim against Love Holidays, the package tour operator who organised the seven-day trip in June 2024. 

Late in the evening on the first day of his holiday, Idris and his friend headed to the rooftop terrace dining area at the Marti Myra Hotel where drinks and dessert platters were being served to guests.

Idris made it very clear to the staff members serving the sweet that he had a severe allergy to peanuts, say his family. He had suffered allergic reactions in the past and was fully aware of the safety measures he needed to take to protect himself.

Idris was assured by the waiter the dessert did not contain peanuts. To be doubly sure, Idris used Google Translate to repeat the request for assurance in Turkish. 

After receiving assurances that the desserts did not contain peanuts, Idris went ahead and ate them.

However, immediately he began to feel unwell and recognising the symptoms, quickly went to his hotel room to administer an EpiPen.

Tragically, Idris died shortly afterwards in the early hours in his hotel room.

Idris’ devastated family have now launched a legal claim against Love Holidays, based in Hammersmith, London. In light of their experience the family want to urge travel companies to do more to ensure that hotels they work with do more to protect guests with food allergies.

Represented by the travel claims team at law firm Leigh Day, they have written to the tour operator to set out the story of what happened to Idris on 11 June 2024, the day after he arrived at Antalya for his seven-day holiday.

The letter alleges that the desserts served in the rooftop terrace dining area and eaten by Idris contained peanuts which triggered a fatal anaphylactic reaction.

Leigh Day solicitor Colin Murphy, who represents the family of Idris, says Love Holidays is liable for negligence on the part of its suppliers and/or the improper performance of its regulated contract with Idris. Idris' family allege that had Love Holidays and their suppliers exercised the due care to which Idris was entitled, he would not have suffered the allergic reaction which tragically claimed his life.

Love Holidays has confirmed it has appointed solicitors who are investigating the claim.

The allegations against Love Holidays and their suppliers include:  

• Failing to identify food allergens to guests.  
• Providing incorrect information regarding food allergens.  
• Misleading Idris as to the contents of food.  
• Serving Idris items of food which were known or should have been known to be harmful to Idris.  
• Failing to provide any/any adequate training to staff on allergies and food safety.  
• Failing to implement measures to avoid cross contamination of food.  
• Failing to administer any/any adequate medical care to Idris.  
• Failing to take any adequate care for the safety of Idris.  
• Failing to keep Idris safe from injury. 

Idris’ mother Ayeshah Bhatia said:

“Our lives have been shattered forever. To lose our son aged 19 is the worst tragedy any family could face. To lose him in circumstances where we were not able to be there to help him is very hard to bear. To lose him knowing that he had made every effort to protect himself from a harm to which he knew he was vulnerable is even worse.

“We believe Love Holidays should have done more to keep Idris safe and that is why, for his sake and for the sake of others with food allergies, we are taking this legal action. Tour operators must do more to ensure the hotels where they accommodate their guests are safe for people with food allergies.”

Colin Murphy added:

“We are supporting Idris’ family in a legal claim against Love Holidays. The loss of their son while on holiday in Turkey has been devastating. 

“Holidaymakers should be able to go on holiday safe in the knowledge that measures will be taken by hotels that work with UK tour operators to protect them in case of food allergies.”