LAWYERS are investigating after a seven-year-old boy from Somerset fell seriously ill on holiday in Egypt.

Irwin Mitchell have been taken on by the family of Ethan McNally-Roberts who went on to develop E.Coli and kidney failure after falling ill during the TUI UK Ltd-booked break at the Jaz Mirabel Beach Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh.

He was admitted to an intensive care unit at an Egyptian hospital and later flown home by air ambulance to continue treatment.

Natalie and John McNally-Roberts, from Burnham-on-Sea, fell ill within the first two days of their family holiday in May this year.

Shortly afterwards, Ethan was also being sick and had severe diarrhoea.

He was taken to a medical centre, then admitted to intensive care at a local hospital the day they were due to fly home.

Five days later Ethan suffered a seizure where he choked and stopped breathing, requiring resuscitation.

He was diagnosed with Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome and needed to be transferred to another hospital in Cairo for specialist care, where he underwent peritoneal dialysis for 72 hours followed by around 20 hours of renal replacement therapy.

Natalie returned home on June 8 and Ethan and John travelled back by air ambulance four days later.

Ethan was subsequently admitted to hospital in Bristol, where he remained until June 18.

He requires regular monitoring of his kidney function.

Natalie said: “This was Ethan’s first holiday abroad and we were all really excited. Within a few days, we were all sick. Seeing Ethan so unwell broke our hearts and when his condition worsened, we knew we had to get him to a hospital.

“What we went through was nothing short of traumatic and John and I were so scared that Ethan might die. No parent should have to go through what we did, it’s something that will take years to overcome. At times, we weren’t even allowed into the hospital in Egypt to see him; it was terrifying.

"We ended up having to stay in Egypt longer than we planned, and John and Ethan had to come home separately in an air ambulance. Leaving them in Egypt was one of the hardest things I had to do knowing how Ethan’s condition had continued to decline. It was such a relief when they got home, but even then, Ethan had to continue treatment and stay in hospital in Bristol for around a week.

“To this day, he’s still affected and has to have regular monitoring due to his kidney damage. He’s not long turned eight and the effects of the treatment in Egypt still psychologically impact him now, which is heart-breaking. He’s truly our hero for how he’s coped with all that he had to endure.

“I really wish we could turn back time and not go to Egypt, but sadly that’s not possible. While we can’t change anything, what we’ve had to endure is unacceptable and we demand some answers.”

Hannah Clifford, from Irwin Mitchell, said: "Their dream trips turned into nightmares after they were struck down with gastric symptoms.

“Things went from bad to worse when hospital treatment was needed."