AN ACCRINGTON mum-of-three, whose health was wrecked after biting into a black worm she found in her dinner, has won a record £240,000 payout.

Beryl Rushton, 66, endured organ failure, temporary blindness and septicemia after a holiday in the Dominican Republic more than seven years ago.

But despite the landmark compensation claim the former yoga teacher says money is no substitute for her health.

"It seems a lot of money but the point is my health has suffered inside and out," said Beryl. "If you pay good money to stay at a four or five star place, you go to relax and chill out – not to come back and fight for your life like I did."

Beryl was enjoying a two-week break at the Hacienda Tropical beach resort in the Puerto Plata region of the Caribbean country when she bit into the red snapper fish meal.

The grandmother now takes 23 tablets a day for heart, bowel and bone conditions, has only 30 per cent use of the left side of her body and is mostly confined to a wheelchair.

Beryl said: "I never thought it would happen. I have been all over the world and had this dish before. It’s my favourite.

"After I ate into it I thought ‘let me be okay’.

"But at about 1am the following morning the pains were horrendous.

"I have had three sons in childbirth. All that pain put together was nothing compared to it. I remember violent diarrhoea and blood loss through my nose and mouth. It was horrendous."

Beryl soon caught a flight back to Manchester and was rushed to Accrington Victoria before a transfer to Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

After being diagnosed with bacterial gastroenteritis, doctors then discovered an infection contracted from the worm attacked Beryl’s brain, liver and pancreas.

Later lawyers proved Beryl’s health problems were due to poor hygiene at the hotel and a settlement with tour operator First Choice was later agreed.

A spokeswoman from First Choice has confirmed the company has stopped selling the property.

Beryl - who once enjoyed dancing, climbing and fell walking - works three hours a week in a voluntarily counseling role.

But added: "I’m not getting any better now. It’s just going to go worse. There will come a day when I need a nurse carer each day. That money is in a trust for when I need it."

Her lengthy legal struggle was supported by specialist travel law solicitor, Paul McClorry from Manchester firm, Pannone, who said it was the highest ever payout by a tour operator for a holiday illness claim.

Since the ordeal Beryl has written a semi-autobiographical book entitled ‘To Hell and Back, and Back Again’, which she hopes to publish soon.