Wife's agonising statement as husband dies from 'half-cooked hotel chicken'

A devastated wife has issued a statement following the tragic death of her husband, who died after eating 'half-cooked chicken' at a Fuerteventura hotel.

To celebrate his landmark 70th birthday, Leslie Greenand his family booked to stay at the four-star Occidental Jandia Playa resort in the autumn of 2024. Sadly, what should have been a dream trip filled with happy memories descended into tragedy.

On October 9, during the second week of their £2,300 stay, the grandfather of one became gravely ill. He suffered from symptoms such as diarrhoea, which led to dehydration, and had to be placed in an induced coma as his condition deteriorated. Heartbreakingly, he would never wake up.

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On November 4, just hours after the decision was made to switch off his life support machine, Leslie passed away, leaving his loved ones bereft. An inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court has now concluded that Leslie died of multi-organ failure as a result of sepsis, caused by Salmonella.

Following the hearing, Julie Green, Leslie's wife of 38 years, paid tribute to the retired newspaper delivery driver for the Manchester Evening News, who she described as her "best friend" in a moving statement. Julie, from Little Lever in Bolton, said: "It's almost impossible to find the words to describe the last few months, and trying to come to terms with Leslie's death.

"Leslie was such a loving and caring husband and dad. He was my best friend, and life without him will never be the same. I still struggle to comprehend how we went on holiday, but Leslie didn't come home. Leslie was the head of our family and someone everyone looked to for help and guidance."

She continued: "There's now a gaping hole in our family that can never be filled. I'd do anything not to be in this position and for Leslie to be in our lives, but I know that's not possible. Listening to the evidence has been difficult, but it was something I was determined to do to honour Leslie's memory. I just hope that by speaking out, I can prevent anyone else suffering like Leslie did. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

Retired nurse Julie also became severely ill, contracting salmonella on what happened to be her 60th birthday, and spending a week in hospital. According to Julie, she and Leslie had only eaten from the hotel buffet during their stay.

She recalled how they'd eaten a dish with a lukewarm carbonara sauce on one of the days, while another, separate meal contained undercooked chicken. Julie also alleged that newly cooked food had been mixed in with food that had been standing out, while staff weren't seen to wash their hands.

Yesterday (August 13), the Barceló Hotel Group, which runs the Occidental Jandia Playa, addressed these claims and stated that no Salmonella has been detected at the hotel within the last twelve months.

A spokesperson said: "The Barceló Hotel Group deeply regrets the death of a guest at our Fuerteventura hotel in November 2024. On behalf of the entire group, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the guest's family and loved ones and reiterate our firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our customers.

"The Barceló Hotel Group has a strict food hygiene and safety protocol that includes rigorous internal controls and periodic external audits performed by an independent company renowned in food safety.

"This control system guarantees compliance with applicable regulations and our company's stringent quality standards. We also hold certificates from the aforementioned external audit company confirming that no Salmonella has been detected at the hotel in the last twelve months. These audits and controls reflect our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of guests."

The Greens were on a Jet2 holiday when the tragic events unfolded. Jet2 has stated that it would be "inappropriate" to comment on account of an ongoing legal claim, but did offer its "thoughts and condolences" to Leslie's family.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com