Nearly a thousand British holidaymakers are taking legal action after being struck down with gastric illnesses while staying at luxury hotels in Cape Verde.
A staggering 926 people have come forward over the last three years to say they fell seriously ill after visiting the island during what should have been dream trips.
Many were left hospitalised as a result of their symptoms after their five star breaks turned into ‘holidays from hell’. Since 2022, hundreds of people reported falling ill with serious illnesses such as Shigella and Salmonella at seven different hotels across the island.
They included a newlywed couple on a honeymoon, a man who was so ill he fell unconscious on the flight home and a beauty therapist who doctors initially feared was suffering a stroke.
Cordelia Plummer, 56 from Shard End, Birmingham, and partner Ian Waller, 56 from Kingston-Upon-Hull, are among a new group of holidaymakers to contact lawyers. They were both struck down with serious gastric illness during a two week stay at the Riu Cabo Verde hotel in Sal, Cape Verde.
The holiday, taken between July 12-27 this year, was booked via tour operator TUI, and the couple paid almost £3,000 for their all-inclusive break.
Jatinder Paul, a specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing the holidaymakers, said: “The sheer volume of clients we’re continuing to see coming forward having fallen ill during stays in Cape Verde over the last three years is incredibly concerning.
“The numbers involved show that these aren’t isolated incidents. The fact that significant numbers are still approaching us with similar first-hand accounts points towards a worrying picture of ongoing illness that shows no sign of ending.
“Those we represent rightly have a number of concerns over how such illnesses have occurred over such a period of time.
“Gastric illness can result in long-term health problems or even death, and the fear is this could end in tragedy if something isn’t done to address the underlying causes.
“We understand that several other people at the hotel fell ill at the same time as Cordelia and Ian did. As part of our investigations, we’d be keen to hear from anyone else who was staying at this hotel at the same time.”
Cordelia, a customer service assistant, was taken ill a week into the break with severe gastric symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhoea. She was mainly confined to her room for four days and was forced to consult her GP on returning to the UK, who initially said her symptoms could be a sign of shigella.
Ian was struck down a few days later with the same symptoms which continued for the remainder of the holiday and upon his return to the UK. Ian continues to suffer with an ongoing change to his bowel habits.
The couple said they spoke to other guests at the hotel who were suffering with similar symptoms. Upon returning home, they were shocked to read negative reviews online, with people reporting similar experiences to their own.
The couple said that they noticed that food was often served uncovered and lukewarm. They also reported the same dishes appeared to be served on more than one occasion and they both observed cockroaches in the restaurant near the desserts.
Cordelia said: “What was meant to be a dream two weeks on a wonderful island turned into a holiday Ian and myself will now do our best to forget. What started as headaches and a feeling of nausea, became the worst sickness and diarrhoea I’ve ever known.
“I think everyone has probably had an upset stomach at one time or another, but this was something much worse. I was in the room for several days and have never felt so ill.
“It was bad enough that we sought medical advice and did so again once we were back home. Ian was also really sick but decided to let the illness run its course.
“We both had concerns about the presentation of the food, with some dishes not appearing to be thoroughly cooked or what looked like the same dishes from lunch would appear again at dinner.
“The cockroaches were also disgusting and when we pointed this out on one occasion, a member of staff came out, picked it up in a napkin and walked towards the kitchen with it.
“While at the hotel, we encountered several other guests who also said they had been ill with the same symptoms as ours.
“There were three older ladies we spoke to and a group of younger girls too who also said they’d been really ill. The number of stories we have seen and heard before coming home and returning to the UK are shocking.
“Had we seen these beforehand, we’d never have booked the holiday. I think Ian and myself and all the other people who have fallen ill need to know what happened and what is being done to prevent this happening to others.”
Cordelia and Ian are among a new group of ten holidaymakers who stayed at the five Star Riu Cabo Verde this summer to instruct Irwin Mitchell. Meanwhile more than 20 people have approached the firm after staying at Riu Funana Hotel in 2023.
In 2022, more than 170 holidaymakers came forward to take legal action after falling ill at the same hotel. Hundreds of other holidaymakers have instructed the firm following illness at other Cape Verde hotels.
In 2022, a total of 806 people came forward followed by 65 in 2023 and 55 so far this year.
TUI did not respond to South West News Service’s requests for comment.