Parents suing Thomas Cook after daughter loses kidney in Turkey holiday accident

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The parents of an eight-year-old girl who lost a kidney following an accident at a Thomas Cook holiday resort in Turkey are now suing over the incident.

Heidi-Ray Noble Steeples, from West Yorkshire, ruptured her left kidney when she fell from the top of a play area slide onto a picket fence at the Montebello resort in Oludeniz.

She then had her kidney removed during two weeks of hospital treatment. She also developed pneumonia and suffered a bad reaction to plasters on her wounds.

Back in the UK, she had to endure a number of outpatient appointments with a renal specialist before getting the all-clear to return to school.

Her injuries have meant she can no longer take part in her favourite hobby of horse riding, as well as a number of sports.

Her parents have now instructed legal firm Irwin Mitchell to secure a settlement from Thomas Cook on her behalf, blaming the "poor positioning" of the fence for their daughter's injury in August 2012.

Her mother Sarah Noble Steeples told the Yorkshire Post: "Falling from that slide has changed her life forever.

"It could all so easily have been prevented if the resort had taken more care with the layout of its play area.

"It was heartbreaking to see Heidi in such pain on what should have been a really enjoyable holiday and it was an incredibly difficult time for the family."

She added: "We want to make sure somebody takes responsibility for Heidi's fall.

"There's no excuse for an eight-year-old having to go through this and having to adjust to life after the incident without being able to return to all of the things she used to love doing."

Demetrius Danas, an international personal injury law specialist at Irwin Mitchell, told the Daily Mail: "Heidi's life has been changed greatly because of the fall.

"Losing a kidney is a very serious, life-changing event and a hugely stressful situation for anybody, let alone an eight year old girl.

"We have started legal action against Thomas Cook following the incident and have invited them to admit responsibility for what happened to Heidi.

According to Travel Mole, Thomas Cook said: "We were naturally very concerned to hear about Miss Noble Steeples' accident while on holiday with us.

"As we are in the process of liaising directly with the family's legal representative in relation to this, we are unable to provide any further comment at this time."

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