TUI couple among ‘hundreds of people seriously ill’ after luxury hotel holidays
Nearly 1,000 British holidaymakers are taking legal action after suffering severe gastric illnesses while staying at luxury hotels in Cape Verde. A total of 926 individuals have reported falling seriously ill over the past three years during what were meant to be dream holidays on the island. Many of them ended up in hospital due to their symptoms, turning their five-star vacations into nightmares. Since 2022, hundreds of people have experienced serious illnesses like Shigella and Salmonella at seven different hotels across Cape Verde, according to reports from Hull Live.
Among those affected are a newlywed couple on a honeymoon, a man who became unconscious on the flight back due to illness, and a beauty therapist initially suspected of having a stroke. Cordelia Plummer, 56, from Shard End, Birmingham, and her partner Ian Waller, 56, from Kingston-Upon-Hull, are part of a new group of holidaymakers seeking legal assistance. They both fell ill with severe gastric issues during a two-week stay at the Riu Cabo Verde hotel in Sal, Cape Verde. The trip, taken between July 12-27 this year, was booked through tour operator TUI, costing the couple nearly £3,000 for an all-inclusive package.
Jatinder Paul, a specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the holidaymakers, expressed concern over the increasing number of cases emerging from Cape Verde over the past three years. He emphasized that the ongoing illnesses are alarming and could potentially lead to long-term health problems or even fatalities if the root causes are not addressed. Cordelia fell ill a week into the holiday with severe gastric symptoms, while Ian experienced similar issues a few days later, with ongoing effects upon returning to the UK. The couple noted concerning practices at the hotel, such as uncovered and lukewarm food, repeated serving of the same dishes, and sightings of cockroaches in the restaurant vicinity.
Upon returning home and reading negative reviews matching their own experiences, Cordelia and Ian, along with other affected guests, decided to speak out. They joined a group of 10 holidaymakers who stayed at Riu Cabo Verde this summer in seeking legal assistance from Irwin Mitchell. Over 20 individuals have also approached the firm after staying at Riu Funana Hotel in 2023, following over 170 holidaymakers who took legal action in 2022. Many more holidaymakers have sought help from the firm after falling ill at various hotels in Cape Verde.
TUI has not responded to requests for comments regarding these cases. The increasing number of affected individuals has raised significant concerns about the safety and hygiene standards at these luxury hotels in Cape Verde. Cordelia and Ian, along with other holidaymakers, are determined to find out the causes of their illnesses and ensure that proper measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. This situation highlights the importance of thorough investigations and accountability to safeguard the health and well-being of travellers on holiday.