'We spent £3,000 on dream holiday - but spent most of it ill with vomiting and diarrhoea'

Nearly one thousand British tourists say they have been struck down with severe gastric distress, shigella or salmonella after staying at luxury hotels in Cape Verde

Hundreds of British holidaymakers are taking legal action after being left with a nasty illness while staying at luxury hotels in Cape Verde.

A staggering 926 people have come forward over the last three years to say they were struck down with gastric illnesses after visiting the tropical island. Many were left hospitalised as a result of their symptoms after their expensive five-star breaks turned into 'holidays from hell', and say they suffered serious illnesses such as shigella and salmonella following their stays at seven different hotels across the island. Victims 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 Birmingham, and partner Ian Waller, 56 from Hull, are among the latest 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 and 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.

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"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. He 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. 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."

Cordelia and Ian are among a new group of ten holidaymakers who have instructed law firm Irwin Mitchell after staying at the five-star Riu Cabo Verde this summer. More than 20 people 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, including 55 so far this year. TUI did not respond to requests for comment.