A couple have spoken of their ordeal after being struck down with gastric illnesses while staying at a luxury hotel on the sunshine Cape Verde islands. They are among a staggering 926 people to have come forward over the last three years to say they fell seriously ill after visiting the African nation 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 the Midlands, and partner Ian Waller, 56 fare 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 to July 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 concernin.