A romantic couple’s plans for a dream engagement at a luxury sunshine holiday resort were wrecked – when the groom-to-be was struck by suspected salmonella poisoning.

Joe Kilgannon, 24, and bride-to-be Cezanne Bannon, 22, are suing a holiday company after telling how their engagement at the plush Mexican getaway was ruined by the chronic food poisoning.

Newly-engaged Joe fell ill just days into the sunshine break at the five-star hotel – and had hospital treatment for salmonella poisoning back home in Britain.

He told how he “spent more time popping to the toilet rather than popping the question” when the romantic trip was ruined.

Fork lift driver Joe, of Newport, said: “Our trip to Mexico was meant to be a romantic break for us to celebrate our engagement together.

“But it was completely ruined after I became seriously ill.

“We were very disappointed with the standards at the hotel; especially at it was meant to be a five-star resort.”

The couple paid more than £2,000 for the stay at the Grand Bahia Principe in Riviera Maya, Mexico, in December to mark their engagement celebrations.

A Thomas Cook spokesman confirmed they were investigating “serious and, at present, unsubstantiated allegations” about the hotel stay.