TUI has broken its silence with a significant update following the tragic deaths of four British holidaymakers who succumbed to a severe diarrhoeal illness while visiting the sun-kissed island paradise of Cape Verde. The devastating incidents have left families shattered and searching for answers, with legal proceedings now underway against the major tourism operator.
Four British Lives Lost in Tropical Holiday Tragedy
The victims, who all passed away within a four-month period last year, have been identified as Elena Walsh, a 64-year-old from Birmingham, Mark Ashley from Bedfordshire, Karen Pooley, also 64, from Gloucestershire, and a 56-year-old man whose identity has not been fully disclosed. These four individuals represent part of a larger group of six British nationals who have died in Cape Verde since 2023, with thousands more reporting debilitating gastric symptoms including severe diarrhoea during their visits to the West African island nation.
Families Seek Justice Through Legal Channels
The grieving families of all six deceased British tourists are now pursuing damages from TUI, with whom they had booked their holiday packages. The tourism giant had remained quiet on the matter until recently, when it finally addressed the situation publicly after affected parties secured legal representation from prominent firm Irwin Mitchell.
Emma Ashley, widow of victim Mark Ashley, recounted how they had anticipated a "relaxing break" when they booked their £3,000-plus holiday with TUI. Tragically, her husband became violently ill during their trip, with symptoms persisting even after their return to the United Kingdom. Despite reporting his condition to TUI on October 9, Mr Ashley ultimately collapsed at their Houghton Regis home on November 12 and could not be saved.
Multiple Factors in Complex Medical Cases
Karen Pooley's case presents particularly distressing circumstances. Having paid over £3,000 for her two-week TUI holiday to Cape Verde, she fell ill with sickness that lasted four days. During this period, she slipped on water from a leaking refrigerator and required emergency airlift to a hospital in Tenerife for urgent medical attention. Her official death certificate listed multiple organ failure, sepsis, cardio-respiratory arrest, and a broken left leg as causes of death.
Medical authorities have yet to definitively identify the specific pathogen responsible for the illnesses affecting those who have died or fallen sick during their Cape Verde visits. This uncertainty has compounded the distress for families seeking closure and understanding about what exactly claimed their loved ones' lives.
Scale of Illness Reports Described as "Staggering"
Irwin Mitchell, the legal firm representing the affected families, claims to be acting on behalf of more than 1,500 individuals who fell ill following trips to Cape Verde. Jatinder Paul, a serious injury lawyer with the firm, described the number of people coming forward with illness claims as "truly staggering" and unprecedented in his experience.
"Nothing brings the gravity of this situation into sharper focus than these recent deaths," Paul stated. "In my experience, I'm used to supporting holidaymakers who have fallen ill at resorts across the globe, but I've never seen repeated and continued illness outbreaks at the same resorts on such a scale over such a period of time."
Concerns About Hygiene Standards and Investigation
The lawyer further explained that those represented by his firm have serious concerns about hygiene standards in Cape Verde. While acknowledging that nothing can fully compensate for their losses, Paul emphasized their determination to help establish the answers families deserve about what happened to their loved ones.
A TUI spokesperson has confirmed that the company is fully investigating the claims being made. The tourism provider has assured that customers who fall ill while on holiday have access to appropriate care and assistance through their services. However, the spokesperson noted that sometimes travellers who become unwell do not report their sickness or seek TUI support during their stays, which can limit what assistance the company can provide after the fact.
The situation continues to develop as investigations proceed, with affected families hoping for both answers about what caused their loved ones' illnesses and deaths, and appropriate accountability from those responsible for their holiday arrangements.
