I was poisoned at Rampila restaurant, 3 weeks ago.

I was taken for lunch by two business colleagues both long-standing customers of Rampila.

After looking at the menu, I was informed that the Lampuki fish is a specialty of Malta. Fatefully, I ordered Lampuki.

After lunch, I returned to my hotel room nearby and within minutes of arrival began to feel unwell. My head was turning and I felt dizzy and lay on the bed gasping for breath.

I tried to get up but just couldn’t. Waves of nausea descended and my heart was beating fast, which I later discovered is a potentially life threatening condition, called tachycardia.

Eventually and with great difficulty, I managed to reach for the bedside phone and called for help. Ten minutes later, I was in an ambulance headed to the Emergency Room at the Mater Dei hospital.

The doctor in charge of my case, on hearing that I had eaten Lampuki fish, diagnosed Scombroid poisoning.

Scombroid is a not uncommon cause of food poisoning that results from the inferior handling and preparation of raw fish such as the Lampuki.

I was injected with an antihistamine and placed on a drip.

Within a few hours I was released from hospital still feeling shaken and rotten. I returned to my hotel and slept for the next 14 hours. On waking I still felt shaky.

Although I have recovered physically, I still suffer nightmares as a result of the memories of panic induced by the Scombroid poisoning.

I have reported this matter to Rampila and requested compensation.

I supplied them with a medical report but I have heard nothing positive despite writing to them several times. I have not even received an apology.

Draw your own conclusion before choosing to dine at Rampila.