Tui sued by Brit holidaymakers hit by gastric illness at five star resort
A group of British holidaymakers have launched legal action after they experienced gastric illness during their holidays at a "five star" island resort.
Approximately fifteen people have reported that their holidays were ruined this year by gastric symptoms whilst staying at the Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria hotel in Cape Verde. Three holidaymakers who found themselves in hospital and some still have symptoms have taken legal action against TUI, who they all secured getaways with.
According to lawyers, more than 300 people also fell ill while staying at the resort last year and are in the process of initiating legal action. Lorraine Wilson, 42, and her partner Mark Bonner visitedthe resort between October 18 and October 29 this year, at a cost of £4000.
Lorraine Wilson and Mark Bonner in the hospital after experiencing gastric illness whilst staying at the Riu Palace Santa Maria hotel in Cape Verde (Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)However, four days after arrival, Mark began suffering from diarrhoea, a high temperature and intense stomach cramps. Lorraine operates a holiday letting management operation and also experienced diarrhoea and stomach pains, flu and a headache.
Having suffered for two days, they visited the on-site clinic and were instructed to go to hospital, where they were put on a drip. The pair are from York and were prescribed medication to ease stomach cramps, as well as probiotics and rehydration sachets.
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However, Lorraine and Mark, began suffering from symptoms and recall that their "dream trip" turned into a "disaster". Marks runs a railway design company, said; "The holiday quickly went from what we hoped would be a dream trip to a disaster.
"What's even more concerning is that we didn't appear to be alone. We saw other holidaymakers who said they'd been poorly. We know nothing can turn the clock back and make up for what's happened but the least we feel we deserve is answers."
Lorraine recalls that while at the resort she had "never been so ill" in her life and "just wanted to be home". In addition she was worried about the resort's hygiene standards with as "food was left uncovered" and "there were bad smells around the resort".
She added: "The enthusiasm and excitement we had about our holiday quickly vanished when we fell ill. We couldn't even keep down water and I've never been so ill in my life.
"All I wanted was to be home. There were a lot of flies in the restaurant landing on things, food was left uncovered for very long periods and I saw new food being mixed with old food.
Lorraine Wilson and Mark Bonner in Cape Verde (Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)"There were bad smells around the resort especially near reception. The illness was bad enough, but we've also been left with the disappointment of our holiday being ruined."
Meanwhile, another customer, Lisa Bradley, 58, went to a five-star resort on September 27 and paid £1,300 for her holiday. However four days into her holiday, she began experiencing diarrhoea and "felt like she couldn't breath".
Her best friend went to an on-site clinic, where a doctor spoke to her about dangerously low blood pressure and went to hospital. She was given bottles of intravenous fluids, a heart tabled, medication to make stomach cramps better, rapid rehydration sachets and tablets to treat diarrhoea.
Lisa flew back home to her house in Selby, North Yorkshire on October 5, however she still experiences symptoms intermittently and has to visit her GP. She said: "On the day my symptoms started I woke up at 5.30am with my stomach churning.
"I knew I wasn't right but as the hours went by, I got worse. It was absolutely awful. It felt like someone was squeezing my heart and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
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"I'm not sure quite how I managed it, but somehow I got to the on-site clinic and then the hospital. I was totally wiped out for a few days and the holiday I'd looked forward to was ruined."
Lorraine Wilson in hospital after coming down with gastric illness while in Cape Verde (Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)When Lisa was on holiday, she was also 'shocked' at the hotel's hygiene standards and says there were 'cats roaming around' and 'flies everywhere.' The retired financial advisor commented: "I was shocked at the hygiene standards. Tables were left with remnants of food on and it seemed to take a long time for them to be cleared and cleaned. There were cats roaming around and flies everywhere."
Lisa even contacted TUI asking to change her holiday, because she had seen "some social media rumours" about the hotel. But the travel operator refused to let her, adding that "there were no issues at the hotel".
She said: "In the weeks before my holiday I'd started to see some social media rumours regarding issues at the hotel. I contacted TUI two weeks before I was due to fly asking if I could change my holiday and I would pay the difference.
"However, I was told I couldn't change it as it was too close to departure and there were no issues at the hotel. I'm annoyed that when I tried to raise concerns in advance I was told there weren't any problems and was left with the choice of going on holiday or losing my money. I just feel the least I now deserve is answers as to how I fell ill."
Lisa Bradey who fell ill after staying at the five-star resort in Cape Verde (Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)Specialist international injury lawyer Jatinder Paul at Irwin Mitchell represents holidaymakers and said "action needs to be taken" to prevent this happening again. We continue to be contacted by a growing number of people from across the UK who fell ill during holidays to the Riu Palace Santa Maria this summer and autumn. Many of our clients are reporting suffering the same serious symptoms.
"While this is concerning, what's particularly worrying is these cases come after more than 300 people contacted us last year after being struck down with serious illnesses including severe sickness and diarrhoea while staying at the same resort. Naturally, our clients now want answers as to how they became so ill on a five-star holiday.
"We're investigating those concerns and are determined to provide them with the answers they deserve. Gastric illness can lead to serious and long-term health complications and its impact should never be downplayed. It's vital that those with concerns about the resort are now supported.
"If during the course of our investigations any issues are identified, action needs to be taken to reduce the risk of other holidaymakers falling ill in the future."
TUI have been contacted for a comment.
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