A DREAM honeymoon to the Dominican Republic turned into a nightmare for a Pershore couple after the bride fell ill and ended up attached to a hospital drip.

Maria and Anthony Pearman have received a “five-figure settlement” from the company which booked the holiday, although TUI UK Limited has neither admitted nor denied liability.

The couple travelled to the five-star Royal Suites Turquesa Hotel in January 2013 for a special trip that was not only a honeymoon but a celebration of Mrs Pearman’s 40th birthday.

But Mrs Pearman, who works as a midwife, fell seriously ill eight days into her honeymoon.

Mrs Pearman who required hospitalisation, suffered from severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and dizziness.

She said: “This holiday was not only to celebrate our honeymoon but for my 40th birthday and it was a complete disaster. Anthony and I visited the hotel four years earlier and had a wonderful time, but we were bitterly disappointed with the conditions at the hotel when we returned.

“I was really unwell for the last week of our honeymoon. I also had to take one week off from work when I got home because I was struggling to get over the horrible symptoms.”

She added: “I am still continuing to suffer from bowel problems now and it has impacted upon my confidence and my social life as I don’t feel I can go out with friends as much as I used to.”

Back in the UK, the couple asked international personal injury lawyers, Irwin Mitchell to take up their case, and this led to the settlement.

Elizabeth Tetzner of Irwin Mitchell, representing the couple said: “Whilst no amount of money can make up for what Maria and Anthony went through we hope that they can now start to put their ruined celebration holiday behind them.”