I went on holiday to Cape Verde planning to scatter my husband's ashes and it turned into disaster

Lawyers are now representing 1,107 people who were struck down with serious gastric illnesses at luxury hotels on the African island in the last three years. Hundreds were left hospitalised as a result of their symptoms after their five star breaks turned into 'holidays from hell' - and including children as young as three. 

Illnesses include E.coli, salmonella and the bacterial infection shigella which can have a long-standing impact on the bowel, and can even prove to be fatal. All of the 1,107 booked their holidays through the tour operator TUI.

Sarah Tootell, from Bury is one of the holidaymakers who has asked Irwin Mitchell lawyers to investigate her illness. The 44-year-old travelled to Cape Verde on May 8 for a week-long stay with her nine-year-old daughter, Halle. Having lost her husband more than six years ago, the trip was the first time Sarah travelled alone with her daughter and was intended as a chance for a break and scatter her husband’s ashes whilst there.

Mum and daughter were returning home in the early hours of May 16 when Sarah began to feel feverish and unwell. By the next day this had become severe sickness and diarrhoea and the symptoms became so bad, Sarah consulted her GP. Tests confirmed she had tested positive for shigella. Sarah continues to feel nauseous and still struggles to eat normally.

Sarah said: “This was the first time I had travelled on my own with Halle and took a lot of courage to book in the first place, so I’m devastated by the way things have turned out.  The room had a strange damp smell, but I didn’t complain we just wanted to get on with the holiday.

“I had concerns about the food, including the number of animals around and flies on some of the dishes left out. We always avoided these but there also seemed to be a lot of food brought back to life too, with ribs at lunchtime recycled in a rib curry at night.

“I felt unwell on the trip home on May 16 and by the next day I had the most horrendous diarrhoea and sickness that just went on and on and the stomach cramps were terrible. I’m pretty fit but you worry what would happen if someone more vulnerable went down with such an illness and people need the facts.”

The new group to seek legal action includes 40 tourists who fell ill during and following stays at Riu Palace Santa Maria in Sal, Cape Verde, this year. Eleven were hospitalised and the hotel is the place where most people have fallen ill with 396 holidaymakers, including 63 this year, coming forward. Meanwhile, Riu Funana is second with 218 cases,18 this year. Riu Cabo Verde has seen 192 cases - 56 in 2024 - since 2022.

Jatinder Paul, the international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell supporting the holidaymakers, said: “Despite all the reports of illness from guests who have stayed at hotels in Cape Verde, it’s staggering to think that three years after the first reports, we’re continuing to see significant numbers coming forward reporting debilitating illness.

“Our clients continue to report alarmingly similar illnesses and are understandably angry at how this state of affairs has been allowed to continue. Cape Verde seems to be a hotspot for these cases and our clients have many questions. 

"As the numbers of cases continues to mount, we’re determined to help them secure the answers they deserve. We’d be interested in hearing from other guests who have fallen ill at these hotels in the Cape Verde this year as we investigate whether there is a common source of infection.”

TUI has been approached for comment.