A former army nurse reportedly won £225,000 compensation from Thomson Holidays after being forced to give up her job because of injuries sustained in a fall while dancing the salsa on holiday.
The accident happened in Tenerife in January 2006 when Kathleen Powell from Aldershot fell on a wet floor during a salsa dancing class and fractured bones in her left ankle and sustained injuried to her shin, calf and two toes.
She instructed lawyers Irwin Mitchell who took action against Thomson Holidays which had organised her stay at the Hotel Barcelo Santiago, the London Evening Standard reported
The company had made a partial admission of liability in August last year.
The out-of-court settlement will fund continuing treatment and rehabilitation including physiotherapy as well as cover the loss of earnings from her former job in a military unit. Her nursing registration has now lapsed.
Solicitor Demetrius Danas, of Irwin Mitchell, said: “Hotels must ensure public areas are safe for guests and they have a duty to take precautions when an area might be slippery.”
Thomson Holidays said the company never comments on settlements.
Powell, 58, told the newspaper: “I was a very proficient salsa dancer and had taken part in the class every night on the holiday, but when staff moved the location no effort was made to warn us that the surface could be wet and slippery.
“The pain has been excruciating and I have been regularly in and out of hospital to try and improve the injury to my ankle and the ongoing problems I have with movement.
“I was always very active prior to the incident and loved my job but have been forced to give this up permanently as my injuries continue to affect my day-to-day life so much.
“I just hope that now, with the ongoing treatment and rehabilitation the settlement will provide, I can one day begin to look to the future and regain some quality of life.
“Whilst I am relieved that the settlement has been agreed, nothing can turn back the clock and make up for the horrific ordeal I have had to endure over the last eight years.”