Irwin Mitchell Instructed By Nine Holidaymakers Regarding Riu Palace Cabo Verde

A North Yorkshire woman whose stay at a Cape Verde hotel last year was ruined when she was hospitalised with serious gastric illness is among a number of holidaymakers who have called on specialist lawyers for help in their quest for answers.

Christine Bell, 48, from Slingsby, has revealed how she began to suffer from diarrhoea, vomiting and a fever towards the end of her two-week stay at the Riu Palace Cabo Verde in July 2018, with the symptoms proving so severe that she required hospital treatment on the island.

The problems did not stop there however, as on her return to the UK she also needed regular appointments with her GP as she has continued to battle the illness.

Now, Christine is among nine holidaymakers who have instructed Irwin Mitchell’s specialist International Personal Injury team to investigate illness problems related to stays at Riu Palace Cabo Verde last year.

The legal experts have vast experience of providing advice and support to thousands of people who have suffered injury and illness during holidays, helping them to access vital financial support to aid their recovery in the process. The team has recovered millions of pounds from tour operators including representing over 600 people who fell ill at the Holiday Village in Turkey over successive years between 2009 and 2014, and over 1,000 fell who fell ill following holidays at the Bahia Principe in the Dominican Republic in 2007. The firm also notably acts for over 45 holidaymakers who suffered illness at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel also in Hurghada, Egypt in the summer of last year.

Expert Opinion

“We are hugely concerned by the accounts provided to us by our clients regarding their stays at the Riu Palace Cabo Verde last summer and are already working to develop a clearer picture of the issues that they faced.

“Cases like this are an important reminder of how gastric illness can have huge consequences, often ruining precious time abroad and also having a lasting impact when sufferers return back to the UK.

“We are determined to ensure that our clients’ voices are heard in relation to these reported problems and we will support them every step of the way as they try to gain answers and justice regarding what happened.

“We are advising a growing group of holidaymakers caught up in these problems. As part of our investigations we would like to hear from other guests who may have information about conditions at the hotel.” Jatinder Paul - Partner

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in handling holiday illness cases 

Christine’s holiday at the Riu Palace Cabo Verde started on July 11th and it was around ten days later when her symptoms first emerged.

She recalled: “The illness was absolutely horrendous and I was really in a bad way. My final few days were completely written off and on the 24th it got so bad that I went to see the resort doctor.

“He said I needed to go to hospital and I was placed on an IV drip for several hours before being discharged with antibiotics. I was just stunned to see my holiday turn into this complete nightmare – it was just awful.”

She added: “I had noticed some things which concerned me like food which I occasionally saw being served lukewarm and on a couple of times the glasses for drinks having a strange smell, but I honestly never thought that I was being placed at any risk of harm.

“I am so angry and frustrated that my holiday ended up the way it did and just feel I deserve some answers regarding what went wrong. While it is too late for me, I just hope no one else faces what I have been through.”