A five-star Tui holiday went from “dream trip to a disaster” when holidaymakers fell seriously ill during the trip to Cape Verde.
The group of tourists were hospitalised after being struck with serious gastric illness and left horrified at the hygiene standards at the premium resort at the western tip of Africa, as it was swarming with flies and cats.
Now the group have now taken up their case with a legal firm and are hoping for answers after staying at the Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria in Sal this summer, reports YorkshireLive.
Financial advisor Lisa Bradley, 58, from Carlton in Selby, Yorkshire, travelled to the resort on September 27 with her best friend, paying £1,300 for the trip.
But the holiday soon soured, as she began to suffer from diarrhoea on October 1 and her friend rushed her to the on-site clinic.
There she was told she had dangerously low blood-pressure and said she should attend hospital.
Ms Bradley 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.”
She added: “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.”
Fellow holidaymakers Lorraine Wilson and her partner Mark Bonner, both 42, stayed at the hotel between October 18 and October 29, and paid almost £4,000 for the trip.
The pair, from York, also suffered from severe gastric problems which also required a trip to hospital.
Ms Wilson 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.
“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.”
She added: “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.”
Mr Bonner said: “The holiday quickly went from what we hoped would be a dream trip to a disaster.”
This is the second year in a row that British tourists at the resort have asked solicitors Irwin Mitchell to investigate illnesses there.
Last year, more than 300 people asked the firm to investigate following an outbreak at the hotel and these cases are still ongoing.
Jatinder Paul, a specialist international injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the group of holidaymakers, said: “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.”
He added: “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.”
Express.co.uk has approached TUI for comment.
