Tragic Death of British Holidaymaker in Cape Verde Sparks Health Warnings
A British tourist in his 50s has tragically passed away after contracting a severe gastric illness during a week-long holiday at the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Cape Verde. This marks the seventh fatality of a UK visitor to the African island nation since January 2023, raising serious concerns about health and safety standards for travelers.
Family's Heartbreaking Account of Holiday Turned Nightmare
The victim's wife, who has requested anonymity for the family, revealed they had spent over £6,000 on an all-inclusive TUI-booked holiday that began on August 11 last year. Just two days into their stay at the luxury resort on Sal island, the father-of-two and stepfather-of-two began experiencing severe symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, and vomiting.
"We'd been to the resort the year before to celebrate my husband's retirement and enjoyed it so much we booked again to return," the wife explained. "However, as soon as we arrived the second time, we couldn't believe how much it appeared to have changed from our previous holiday."
The gentleman, who was already immunocompromised, continued to suffer symptoms for twelve weeks after returning home to County Durham. His health deteriorated rapidly in October 2025, leading to hospital admission and ultimately multi-organ failure. He passed away on November 2, 2025.
Pattern of Illnesses and Deaths Among British Tourists
This latest tragedy follows several other British tourist deaths in Cape Verde:
- Jane Pressley, 62, from Gainsborough (died January 2023)
- Mark Ashley, 55, from Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire (died November 2025)
- Karen Pooley, 64, from Lydney, Gloucestershire (died October 2025)
All had stayed at Riu properties in Sal. Specialist solicitors at Irwin Mitchell are now representing over 1,700 UK tourists who have fallen ill after visiting Cape Verde since 2022, including the families of eight holidaymakers who have died.
Official Investigation Reveals Bacterial Contamination
Cape Verde authorities have confirmed detecting shigella bacteria in irrigation water and fresh food samples from Sal and Boa Vista islands. A comprehensive public health investigation analyzed 156 samples including drinking water, fresh food, food-handling surfaces, and medical specimens.
While officials acknowledged some tourists may have contracted infections, they stated the positive samples remained within surveillance parameters and did not constitute an official outbreak. Nevertheless, authorities have issued enhanced disinfection guidelines for businesses handling fresh produce throughout production, importation, and distribution processes.
Legal Expert Issues Urgent Travel Warning
Jatinder Paul, the specialist international serious injury solicitor at Irwin Mitchell leading the legal team, expressed grave concern about the situation. "Shigella is highly contagious," he warned. "Eating or drinking contaminated food or water is one of the most common ways of transmitting the infection, and only a small number of bacteria is required to cause infection."
Paul offered specific advice for travelers planning Cape Verde visits: "Ensure they eat fully cooked, steaming hot meals, always select fruits they can peel and avoid raw vegetables and salads."
The solicitor emphasized that tour operators bear responsibility for ensuring safety on all-inclusive package holidays and urged affected travelers to seek independent legal advice before accepting any settlement offers.
Widow's Emotional Plea to Fellow Travelers
The victim's wife, a woman in her 40s, shared her emotional devastation: "My husband was my soulmate and an absolutely wonderful, loving and caring dad. We never imagined that going on what we thought would be an enjoyable holiday would lead to such traumatic events unfolding."
She concluded with a heartfelt warning to other holidaymakers: "I wouldn't want anyone else to suffer the same experience. People need to be aware of the issues hundreds of holidaymakers to Cape Verde are facing."
The family's tragedy highlights the potentially devastating consequences of travel-related illnesses and underscores the importance of rigorous health and safety standards in international tourism destinations.
