Birmingham Family's Holiday Horror: Six Brits Die from Stomach Bug in Cape Verde
Six British holidaymakers, including a resident from Birmingham, have tragically died after contracting severe gastric illnesses while on holiday in Cape Verde. Four of these deaths occurred in the latter half of 2025, sparking serious concerns and legal action over alleged hygiene failures at popular all-inclusive resorts.
Victims and Timeline of the Tragedy
The victims include 64-year-old Elena Walsh from Birmingham, 55-year-old Mark Ashley from Bedfordshire, 64-year-old Karen Pooley from Gloucestershire, and an unnamed 56-year-old individual. Their deaths occurred between August and November 2025, following the onset of debilitating stomach bugs. The legal firm Irwin Mitchell is now representing over 1,500 other tourists who reported falling seriously ill after visiting the islands.
Many of those affected are understood to have stayed at all-inclusive resorts on the island of Sal, operated by Riu Hotels and booked through the major travel firm TUI. This has led to intense scrutiny of the conditions at these holiday destinations.
Families' Allegations of Poor Hygiene Standards
Grieving families have raised a series of alarming allegations regarding the hygiene standards at the hotels. These claims include:
- Improperly cooked and often lukewarm food being served to guests.
- Poor sanitation practices throughout the resorts.
- Reports of water storage containers being left exposed to the sun.
- One tragic incident where a victim reportedly fractured her femur after slipping on water dripping from a refrigerator.
Patrick Walsh, husband of the late Elena from Birmingham, shared harrowing details of their 12-night stay. He described the food as frequently undercooked, citing unmelted cheese on pizzas and chicken that "tasted funny." He also expressed grave concerns about the behaviour of other guests and staff, noting individuals who would stand at the pool bar all day without using toilet facilities, with the water visibly changing colour.
A Family's Heartbreaking Account
Patrick Walsh, who was married to Elena for nearly four decades, provided a poignant testimony of their ordeal. "Elena was the heart and soul of our family," he said. "She was a wonderful wife, mum, and friend. In the nearly 40 years we'd been together, I'd never seen her so poorly."
He recounted how Elena became so weak she needed a wheelchair to be taken to a local clinic. "The care she received felt chaotic," Patrick stated. "We felt in the dark. After hours of treatment, they suddenly told us her organs were failing and there was nothing they could do. We're absolutely devastated. This holiday was supposed to celebrate my 60th birthday and my son's engagement."
"The least we deserve is answers," he continued. "If Elena died because of the hygiene conditions, we want to help prevent other families from enduring this horrific ordeal."
Legal Action and Calls for Accountability
The families of all six deceased individuals are now pursuing personal injury claims for damages against TUI, the tour operator that provided many of the holidays to Cape Verde. Jatinder Paul, a serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, emphasised the scale of the issue.
"The number of holidaymakers being struck down is truly staggering," Paul said. "I've never seen repeated illness outbreaks at the same resorts on such a scale over such a period. It's almost incomprehensible that these hygiene issues are described year after year. Each case is a human story of lives turned upside down."
He called for meaningful and decisive action to address the reported hygiene problems, urging tour operators to work with authorities to ensure the highest safety standards are upheld for all-inclusive package holidays.
Hotel Chain's Response
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for RIU Hotels & Resorts issued a statement: "At RIU Hotels & Resorts, the health and safety of our guests is always our main priority. We have operated in Cape Verde for 20 years and manage six hotels with over 4,650 rooms. Our hotels follow the strictest international health and hygiene standards, certified by external prestigious consultancy firms. We reiterate that our commitment is to always provide maximum safety and high-quality service."
The Mirror also contacted TUI for comment regarding the ongoing situation and the legal claims being brought against the company by the affected families.
