Legal Team Representing More Than 400 People Struck Down By Illness At Luxury Hotel

Lawyers fear a new illness outbreak at a luxury Cape Verde resort, where more than 400 holidaymakers have previously fallen ill.

An admin assistant from Chesterfield diagnosed with salmonella is among many of the further British tourists to have been struck down with gastric illness during, or shortly after, a holiday at the five-star Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria. 

Increasing number of people instruct international serious injury experts

She booked her trip through tour operator, TUI UK Limited, and is among an increasing number of people to have already instructed expert international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell this year alone, to investigate their illness.

The legal experts are representing more than 1,400 holidaymakers who have fallen ill at various hotels in Cape Verde now for the fourth year running since 2022. Irwin Mitchell represents a total of 412 holidaymakers who have suffered illness linked to Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria. That figure includes eight in 2025 as well as 302 in 2022, 28 in 2023 and 74 in 2024.

Jatinder Paul is the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing those affected.

Expert Opinion

“The sheer number of holidaymakers falling ill at this resort and others in Cape Verde, continues to shock us and is, quite frankly, unacceptable.

“The impact of gastric illness should never be downplayed, and that this particular client went on to be diagnosed with salmonella demonstrates how serious it can be.

“Understandably, she has many questions and concerns over how she became so unwell. We’re now investigating these to help obtain the answers that she – and everyone else affected – deserves.

“It beggars belief that this hotel continues to make so many British tourists ill, every year, with serious life-altering conditions. Something needs to be done now, to stop others from falling ill while holidaying in Cape Verde.

“We call upon TUI, and their partners, including the hotels in question, to take our calls for action seriously and to stop putting commercial interest before the health and safety of their customers.” Jatinder Paul 

Holiday illness: Diane Pickwell's story

Diane Pickwell, aged 60, holidayed at the resort with her husband, Anthony Pickwell, also aged 60, between 8 and 22 March, this year.

On day six of the trip, booked to celebrate the couple’s 39^th wedding anniversary and costing £3,775.16, admin assistant Diane began suffering from abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhoea.  She also had a fever, headaches and backache.

She was hospitalised in Cape Verde, where she was administered intravenous antibiotics. On her return to the UK, she was diagnosed with salmonella.

Following her discharge from hospital abroad, she remained unwell for the remainder of the trip and spent much of her time in her hotel room.  She also required special assistance at the airport when returning home.

Two months on, Diane is still suffering from ongoing symptoms including abdominal pain and toilet urgency.  She’s also had to take time off from her job as an admin assistant.

She said: “As it was our anniversary, we’d been looking forward to our holiday for a long time.  But by the end of the first week, I was bedridden and feeling the worst I’ve ever felt.

“I wasn’t the only one either – I could hear the woman next door to us vomiting and we also met a couple from Hull who were sick.

“At that point, I knew something wasn’t right, and when I think back to the hotel buffet, a lot of the food was left uncovered and served lukewarm. There were also birds and flies around the restaurant, and the cleanliness of our room wasn’t the greatest with stains and holes in the bedding.

“I was devastated when I was told I had salmonella, and I’m still not 100% now.  While nothing can change what happened, I feel I deserve some answers.”

Support available

Find out more about our expertise in supporting people affected by serious illness on holiday at our dedicated illness abroad section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.