A family from Carmarthenshire is part of a group of over 800 British tourists who are taking legal action against travel company TUI due to severe illness experienced at luxury resorts in Cape Verde. The holidaymakers, who had anticipated a perfect vacation, claim they were hospitalised with serious gastric illnesses, turning their dream trips into nightmares. Children as young as six months old were affected, facing health complications such as E.coli, salmonella, and shigella infections from 2022 to 2025. Some individuals continue to suffer from ongoing debilitating symptoms post their vacations. Allegations suggest that TUI failed to ensure proper sanitation, with claims of undercooked food, unsatisfactory temperature control, and reused leftovers. Additionally, complaints arose about birds, ants, and flies around food areas, as well as instances of raw meat being served.
Kelly Barrett, a mother from Whitland, Carmarthenshire, is contemplating legal action after her family’s holiday at Hotel Riu Funana in Sal turned into a nightmare. Despite paying over £5,000 for a 14-night stay from November 22 to December 6, 2022, her children, Rowan and Dennie, aged four and three, fell seriously ill days into the trip. The children had to be hospitalised, with Rowan being airlifted to a hospital in Tenerife for further treatment. Even after the vacation, the children continue to experience health issues, including altered bowel habits and aversion to medical settings. Concerns were raised about hygiene at the resort, including the presence of ants in the buffet area and inadequate chlorine levels in the swimming pool.
Another holidaymaker, Nicky Morley from Paignton, Devon, recounted falling ill at Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in 2022, leading to symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Despite receiving medical treatment in Cape Verde, Nicky still suffers from health issues, such as chronic pain and nausea. She criticises the resort’s hygiene standards, noting the presence of flies and birds near the dining area, along with sanitation lapses like chefs not wearing appropriate gear. The aftermath has affected Nicky’s daily life, causing anxiety about socialising and eating out due to bowel issues.
Jatinder Paul, an international serious injury solicitor at Irwin Mitchell representing the affected tourists, highlighted the seriousness of the cases filed against TUI. The legal proceedings launched in the High Court include claims from 836 individuals across several resorts in Cape Verde. Despite the severity of the illnesses and ongoing health complications faced by the claimants, TUI has either denied liability or remained unresponsive to all 836 cases. The legal battle involves hotels like Riu Palace Boavista, Riu Palace Santa Maria, Riu Funana, Riu Cabo Verde, Riu Touareg, Melia Dunas, Sol Dunas (now TUI Suneo Dunas), and TUI Blue Cabo Verde.
The situation emphasizes the importance of ensuring proper hygiene and food safety standards at holiday resorts to protect guests’ health and well-being. The legal action undertaken by the affected tourists aims to hold TUI accountable for the alleged failures in safeguarding their customers’ health during what was supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable vacation. Moving forward, it remains to be seen how TUI will respond to the legal claims and address the concerns raised by the claimants regarding the detrimental impact of their experiences at the Cape Verde resorts.