TUI Confronts £5 Million Legal Action Following Cape Verde Hotel Illness Claims
Travel giant TUI is facing a substantial £5 million lawsuit following allegations that hundreds of British holidaymakers contracted serious gastric illnesses while staying at a luxury five-star hotel in Cape Verde. The legal action, which has now reached the High Court, centres on the Riu Palace Santa Maria Hotel, a popular winter sun destination that has become the focus of a major health and hygiene scandal.
Widespread Illness and Hygiene Concerns
Approximately 300 individual claims have been consolidated into a group action, with lawyers representing affected holidaymakers alleging that more than 1,500 tourists fell ill while visiting the West African islands. The claimants report suffering from severe symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps during or shortly after their stays at the all-inclusive resort in 2022.
Victims have detailed numerous hygiene failures at the hotel, citing improperly cooked food, inadequate sanitation standards, unhygienic swimming facilities, and sightings of stray dogs and cockroaches throughout the premises. Many holidaymakers required hospital treatment either in Cape Verde or after returning to the United Kingdom, with some experiencing long-term health complications that have significantly impacted their quality of life.
Legal Proceedings and Compensation Claims
The case represents the first of several potential claims to reach court proceedings, with a pre-trial hearing conducted last week before Judge Master Mark Gidden. The judge has scheduled a comprehensive six-week trial to commence at the end of next year, during which the substantial compensation claims totalling over £5 million will be thoroughly examined.
Legal documents submitted to the High Court reveal that affected holidaymakers, including children as young as six months old, contracted various serious gastrointestinal infections. These include confirmed cases of E. coli, salmonella, shigella, and parasitic infections such as cryptosporidium, all allegedly linked to their stays at the TUI-operated resort.
Tragic Fatalities and Ongoing Health Issues
The lawsuit follows several tragic deaths linked to gastric illnesses contracted in Cape Verde. Between August and November 2025, four British tourists – Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham; Mark Ashley, 55, of Bedfordshire; Karen Pooley, 64, from Gloucestershire; and an unnamed 56-year-old man – passed away after developing severe gastric illnesses. Two additional fatalities occurred in January 2023 and November 2024, involving Jane Pressley, 62, from Gainsborough, and a man in his sixties from Watford.
Lead claimant Nicky Morley from Devon, who stayed at the resort in May 2022, became seriously ill just one day into her holiday, experiencing debilitating symptoms that required hospitalisation in Cape Verde. She has since continued to suffer from persistent gastric issues, losing over four stone in weight and experiencing significant lifestyle limitations. "Since the holiday, I've struggled to socialise or eat out with friends as I'm anxious about my bowel issues," Morley stated. "My whole life has been affected."
Public Health Warnings and Company Response
Recent investigations by the UK Health Security Agency have identified concerning patterns of illness linked to Cape Verde travel. Of 118 shigella cases reported since October 1st connected to international travel, 112 individuals (95%) had visited Cape Verde, predominantly the Santa Maria and Boa Vista areas where the affected hotels are located.
Dr Gauri Godbole, deputy director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety at UKHSA, emphasised preventive measures: "The best way to avoid gastrointestinal infections, including shigella and salmonella, or passing them to others, is simply by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol gel – particularly after using the toilet, changing nappies, and before eating or preparing food."
TUI has formally denied liability for the illnesses, setting the stage for a significant legal battle that will examine duty of care standards within the travel industry. The outcome of this case could establish important precedents regarding holiday companies' responsibilities for guest health and safety at international resorts.
