By John Hutchinson for MailOnline

Philip Miller was staying at the Hotel Playa Pesquero in Cuba
But only three days into break he fell ill with diarrhoea and abdominal pains
The 31-year-old needed three months off work to recover
His ordeal included suffering chest pains and fluid on the heart

A police officer who suffered a suspected heart attack after contracting salmonella during his sister’s wedding celebrations in Cuba has been awarded a £30,000 settlement.

Philip Miller, 31, from Weston Super Mare required two stays in hospital for treatment for chest pains and fluid on his heart in the month after he returned from the special two-week family holiday at the Hotel Playa Pesquero in November and December 2013.

He has now described how he wants to put the ‘nightmare’ behind him after suffering months of ill health since returning to the UK.

The health problems he suffered after developing symptoms, which included abdominal pains, diarrhoea and severe lethargy, began just three days into the holiday and had such an impact on him that he needed three months off work to recover.

Now, after specialist illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell helped him to secure a £30,000 settlement from TUI UK, who did not admit liability, following the Salmonella he contracted, Mr Miller has revealed how he is finally looking to the future following the holiday ordeal.

Miller said: ‘This was meant to be a special holiday for the whole family, but the symptoms I suffered meant that I simply could not enjoy it at all.

‘I was devastated and angry that I wasn’t able to focus on my sister’s big day and instead had to spend time battling my illness. However, at that point I had no idea that the problems would get so much worse.’

Just a day after returning to the UK, Mr Miller developed severe chest pains and was admitted to hospital on December 7 with a suspected heart attack. During this time, medical experts also confirmed he was suffering from Salmonella and myopericarditis – or fluid on this heart.

Despite being treated and subsequently discharged several days later, he was then admitted to Weston General Hospital again at the end of the month for further treatment due to similar pains.

He then was unable to return to work until the following March when he had largely recovered.

Philip added: ‘I still find it hard to believe that an illness I suffered on holiday went on to start a chain of health problems which dominated my life for months.

‘You just simply never expect to fall ill during a break abroad and you certainly don’t think that such issues would go on to affect you in such a way.

‘Looking back on the problems, it is still so frustrating that I went through this nightmare. Now the case has settled, I’m just hoping to move on with my life and look positively to the future.’

Jatinder Paul, the solicitor and specialist international personal injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who represents Philip, said: ‘This case is a shocking reminder of the huge consequences that illnesses such as salmonella can have on victims, with a healthy 30-year-old developing serious health problems after falling ill on what was meant to be a special family holiday.

‘The issues that Philip endured had a major impact on his life and as a result we are delighted to have helped him secure a settlement which will go some way towards compensating him for the impact this illness has had on his life.

‘We are now focused on helping others affected by problems at the same resort to get the justice that they deserve.’

IMAGES:
Philip Miller was attending his sister’s wedding in Cuba when he fell ill with salmonella
Mr Miller was staying at the Hotel Playa Pesquero in Guardalavaca, Cuba, for his sister’s wedding (file photo)
Philip MIller has been awarded £30,000 in a settlement after falling ill on holiday

For more on this story go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3116619/Tour-operator-forced-pay-30-000-holidaymaker-struck-nightmare-food-poisoning-Cuba-suspected-heart-attack-return-UK.html#ixzz3cxqRuCqq