Husband Dies After Eating Undercooked Chicken on Holiday

Leslie Green, a 70-year-old man, tragically died after consuming what his family describes as undercooked chicken at a hotel in Fuerteventura. His widow, Julie Green, issued a poignant statement following the devastating turn of events during their holiday, which was meant to celebrate Leslie’s milestone birthday.

The Greens were staying at the four-star Occidental Jandia Playa resort when Leslie fell seriously ill on October 9, 2024. Symptoms began with diarrhoea and quickly escalated, resulting in dehydration and a necessary induced coma. Despite medical efforts, Leslie passed away on November 4, 2024, shortly after life support was turned off. An inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court found that Leslie died from multi-organ failure stemming from sepsis caused by Salmonella.

Julie Green’s Heartfelt Tribute

In her statement, Julie, who had been married to Leslie for 38 years, expressed the profound impact of his loss. “Leslie was such a loving and caring husband and dad. He was my best friend, and life without him will never be the same,” she said. Julie recounted the difficulty in processing their trip, stating, “I still struggle to comprehend how we went on holiday, but Leslie didn’t come home.”

The couple had only eaten from the hotel buffet during their stay, and Julie noted specific incidents that raised concerns about food safety. She remembered a dish containing lukewarm carbonara and a separate meal with undercooked chicken. In addition, she alleged that staff did not consistently wash their hands and that newly prepared food was mixed with items that had been left out.

Julie herself fell ill with Salmonella on what was her 60th birthday, requiring a week-long hospital stay. She emphasized her determination to speak out in Leslie’s memory, hoping to prevent similar tragedies.

Response from the Barceló Hotel Group

In response to the allegations, the Barceló Hotel Group, which operates the Occidental Jandia Playa, stated that no instances of Salmonella had been detected at the hotel in the past twelve months. A spokesperson expressed condolences to Leslie’s family and reaffirmed the hotel’s commitment to food safety protocols. “The Barceló Hotel Group has a strict food hygiene and safety protocol that includes rigorous internal controls and periodic external audits,” the spokesperson said.

Jet2, the travel company that organized the Greens’ holiday, has refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal claim, instead offering its condolences to the family.

As investigations continue, Julie Green hopes that by sharing her story, she can raise awareness about food safety in hotels and protect future guests from similar heartbreak.