September 29th 2024.
It's a nightmare for anyone to fall ill while on vacation, but this has become a reality for hundreds of British holidaymakers who recently visited Cape Verde. A group of tourists have decided to take legal action after experiencing gastric illnesses during their stay at luxurious hotels on the West African island. The numbers are staggering - a total of 926 people have come forward in the past three years, reporting serious illnesses such as Shigella and Salmonella.
The stories shared by these holidaymakers are truly harrowing. Some were hospitalized and their once-in-a-lifetime five-star breaks turned into "holidays from hell". It's not just a few isolated incidents either. Since 2022, people have reported getting sick at seven different hotels across the island. Among them are a newlywed couple on their honeymoon, a man who fell unconscious on his flight home, and even a beauty therapist who was initially thought to be having a stroke.
Cordelia Plummer and her partner Ian Waller are among the latest to come forward and seek legal representation. They had paid almost £3,000 for an all-inclusive stay at the Riu Cabo Verde hotel in Sal for two weeks in July this year. Unfortunately, their dream vacation turned into a nightmare when they both fell seriously ill with gastric symptoms. Like many others, they are now questioning how these illnesses keep happening and if something can be done to prevent them.
Their lawyer, Jatinder Paul, has expressed deep concern over the increasing number of clients who have approached them with similar experiences. The fact that such incidents continue to happen shows that there may be some underlying issues that need to be addressed. Gastric illnesses can have long-term effects and can even be fatal, and it's a fear that this could eventually lead to a tragedy if not dealt with properly.
Cordelia and Ian's story is unfortunately not unique. Karen Edwards and David Watkinson have also joined the legal action after falling ill at the same hotel. Cordelia recalls being confined to her room for several days, while Ian continues to suffer from changes in his bowel habits. What's more concerning is that they spoke to other guests at the hotel who were also experiencing the same symptoms. And upon returning home, they were shocked to find negative reviews online from others who had similar experiences.
The couple also noticed some concerning practices at the hotel, such as uncovered and lukewarm food being served, dishes being repeated, and even cockroaches in the restaurant. It's not something anyone expects when booking a five-star holiday. Cordelia describes their experience as a "dream turned into a nightmare" and says that if they had known about these issues beforehand, they would have never booked the holiday.
Cordelia and Ian are just two of the ten holidaymakers who have recently instructed Irwin Mitchell to represent them. The firm has previously taken on cases from tourists who fell ill at other hotels in Cape Verde. In one instance, a father from Glasgow lost over 17 pounds in body weight, and in another, a widow's first holiday abroad since her husband's passing ended with her contracting Shigella. The numbers are alarming - in 2022, over 170 people came forward, followed by 65 in 2023 and 55 so far this year.
The situation is becoming increasingly concerning, and it's important for authorities to take action to ensure the safety and well-being of tourists in Cape Verde. The agency has reached out to Tui, the travel company that the holidaymakers had booked their trips through, for comment. It's clear that something needs to be done to prevent these illnesses from ruining more vacations and potentially causing serious harm.
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