Tourists take legal action over resort sickness bug

Lorraine Wilson and Mark Bonner fell ill on their £4,000 holiday

Multiple holidaymakers claim they were struck down with a gastric illness during their stay at a five-star resort in Cape Verde.

Law firm Irwin Mitchell said 15 people had complained of falling ill while at Riu Palace Santa Maria in Sal.

Three of the complainants, who are from Yorkshire, said they had booked their trip via travel firm TUI.

TUI did not respond when approached for comment while Riu Hotels declined to comment on the allegations.

A spokesperson for the hotel chain did confirm that all UK guests had come through TUI.

Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell said it was the second year in a row that British holidaymakers had instructed the firm to investigate the resort.

Last year over 300 people complained about their stay and the firm said cases were still ongoing. A further 15 people have contacted the firm in 2023.

Complainants who had stayed at the hotel reported bad smells, flies "everywhere" and food left uncovered for "very long periods" before being mixed with new food.

York couple Lorraine Wilson and Mark Bonner, both 42, stayed at the resort from 18 to 29 October.

Just four days into their £4,000 holiday they said they started experiencing "serious gastric symptoms" including diarrhoea, "explosive" stomach cramps and flu-like symptoms.

Some holidaymakers complained about the hygiene standards at the Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria in Sal

Ms Wilson, who runs a holiday letting management company, said: "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."

The couple said they ended up in hospital where they were put on a drip.

Mr Bonner, who 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."

Ms Wilson said she had to attend hospital for treatment

Lisa Bradley, from Carlton, near Selby, said her stay at the same resort in September was also "ruined" by illness.

The 58-year-old said she had concerns about the hotel after seeing "rumours" on social media and tried to make changes ahead of her £1,300 holiday.

She said TUI told her she could not as her departure date was only two weeks away but reassured her there were no issues at the hotel.

However, when she arrived, she said she was "shocked" by the hygiene standards.

Lisa Bradley says she still suffers from symptoms following her stay at the hotel

She said: "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."

The retired financial advisor said she started to feel unwell a few days later and was told she had "dangerously low blood pressure".

Ms Bradley said she ended up in hospital, adding: "It was absolutely awful.

"It felt like someone was squeezing my heart and I felt like I couldn't breathe."

Jatinder Paul, Irwin Mitchell's specialist international injury lawyer, said the firm was investigating numerous complaints.

He said: "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."