Third Time In Three Years British Holidaymakers Have Instructed Lawyers About The Same Hotel After More Than 300 Fell Ill At Same Sal Resort In 2022

A growing group of British holidaymakers have instructed lawyers to investigate after all of them were struck down with debilitating gastric symptoms while staying at a five-star resort in Cape Verde.

Specialist international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have now been instructed by more than ten tourists, who all stayed at the Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria in Sal this summer.

Lancashire mum contacted by Public Heath following shigella diagnosis

A mum from Lancashire who was diagnosed with shigella, a serious bacterial infection which can be caused by poor sanitary and cooking conditions, is among those now seeking answers.

Dad from Glasgow remains ill having lost more than 17lb in weight

A couple from Scotland were also taken ill at the same time, with the husband remaining ill and having lost more than 17lb in weight.

Lawyers called on to investigate illness in Cape Verde

This is the third summer in a row where holidaymakers staying at Riu Palace Santa Maria have instructed Irwin Mitchell to investigate their illnesses.  A group of 25 fell ill in the summer of 2023 and more than 300 people were stuck down with gastric illnesses in the summer of 2022. The firm notably represents over 1,000 holidaymakers who have fallen ill at various resorts on the Cape Verde islands in 2022 and 2023.

Jatinder Paul is the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell supporting the holidaymakers.

Expert Opinion

“Despite reports of illness outbreaks affecting hundreds of people over the last three years from the same resort, it’s deeply concerning that we have been instructed to act year after year.

“Many of our clients have reported worryingly similar experiences and patterns that have left many of them seriously ill, including with bacterial infections like E. Coli and Shigella which can have particularly serious consequences for the most vulnerable in society such as the elderly and children.

“Our clients understandably have many questions of how they came to be so ill and why people are still being sent to the resort, when based on what we’re seeing, lessons don’t appear to have been learned from previous illness outbreaks among guests.

“Illnesses like shigella are serious and can lead to long-term health complications. It’s vital that if any issue are identified, swift action is taken to eradicate the risks to other holidaymakers.

“As part of our investigations, we would be interested in hearing from other guests staying at the hotel at the same time as this group.” Jatinder Paul

Lancashire mum Sarah Tootell’s story

Sarah Tootell, from Bury in Lancashire, is one of the holidaymakers who have asked Irwin Mitchell to investigate her illness. The 44-year-old mum travelled to Cape Verde on 8 May for a week-long stay with her 9-year-old daughter, Halle. The holiday was booked via tour operator TUI.

Having lost her husband over six years ago, the trip was the first time Sarah travelled alone with her daughter and was intended as a chance for a break and scatter her husband’s ashes whilst there.

Mum and daughter were returning home in the early hours of 16 May when Sarah began to feel feverish and unwell. By 17 and 18 May, this had become severe sickness and diarrhoea. By the Monday, the symptoms were so bad, Sarah consulted her GP, who did tests.

Sarah tests positive for shigella

On Sunday 26 May, Sarah was contacted by public health to confirm she had tested positive for shigella. It took until 1 June for the symptoms to calm down. Sarah continues to feel nauseous and still struggles to eat normally.

Sarah said: “This was the first time I had travelled on my own with Halle and took a lot of courage to book in the first place, so I’m devastated by the way things have turned out. The room had a strange damp smell, but I didn’t complain we just wanted to get on with the holiday.

“I had concerns about the food, including the number of animals around and flies on some of the dishes left out. We always avoided these but there also seemed to be a lot of food brought back to life too, with ribs at lunchtime recycled in a rib curry at night, dishes like that.

“I felt unwell on the trip home on 16 May and by the next day I had the most horrendous diarrhoea and sickness that just went on and on and the stomach cramps were terrible.

“After trying over the counter medication, I realised I needed to see a doctor. My GP said it was likely something from the holiday but I couldn’t believe it when I got a call from public health who said I had tested positive for shigella. I was prescribed antibiotics but I’m still not back to normal.

“I reported it to TUI in an email on 19 May as I felt I had to so they could warn other guests. This trip was meant to be a special opportunity for just me and daughter to have time together after everything we have been through but it’s really set back my mental health and I developed a terrible rash whilst I was unwell.

“Since returning home I’ve seen so many negative reports about this hotel and I can’t understand why people aren’t been made aware of this. When you book a five-star resort you don’t expect to have such problems and I think we need to make others aware of the situation.

“The least I and others deserve is answers as to what is happening and what steps are being taken to prevent others falling ill in the same way. I’m pretty fit but you worry what would happen if someone more vulnerable went down with such an illness and people need the facts.”

Glasgow family Josephine Black and Graham Lamont tell their story

Josephine Black, 53, a council worker and her husband, Graham Lamont, 59, a training manager with the NHS travelled to Riu Palace Santa Maria on 10 May for a week long stay, due to finish on 17 May. The trip was booked via tour operator TUI.

Josephine and Graham were on their first five-star all-inclusive holiday, to celebrate their daughter Freya finishing school and to enjoy a final family holiday before Freya starts university.

Josephine initially started to experience severe, sickness on 11 May and from 13^th May, suffered severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea with Graham falling ill with similar symptoms on 16 May, before they were due to return home. Their children Freya, 18yrs and Nina, 13yrs also complained of stomach cramps and diarrhoea on their day of return home. The in resort TUI rep was informed and kept up to date with all of this.

Dad Remains ill having lost more than 17lb in weight

Both sought medical advice from the hotel doctor and were advised to visit the pharmacy for medication, which they did. Graham continues to be ill and is still being treated by his doctor, who has requested blood tests, as Graham has lost more than 17lb in weight and has been forced to take over two weeks off work.

Josephine said: “This trip was booked as a special treat with Freya finishing school and as probably our last family holiday together before she starts university. We’ve never tried five star or all-inclusive before and this seemed a perfect time. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

“I stated to be sick a day into the holiday and I have never felt so ill in my life. I was still ill on returning home but Graham has seemed to get the worst of it. He was so poorly, and had to travel the following day.

“We’ve both needed time of work, but as I have started to improve, Graham has continued to struggle with illness. The amount of weight he’s lost is such a big concern now and doctors have taken a number of blood tests to discover more about his illness.

“This is the last thing you expect from a five-star holiday and we now wish we’d never been. We’ve spoken to others who fell ill at the same time and have seen terrible reports about this hotel since coming home. I just wish we’d seen some of these reviews before we left.”

Find out more about our expertise in helping holidaymakers and their families affected by serious illnesses at our dedicated illness abroad section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0808 291 1468.