British Families Pursue Legal Action After Cape Verde Holiday Deaths
Four British families are taking legal action following the tragic deaths of their loved ones who contracted severe stomach bugs while on holiday in Cape Verde. The devastating cases, which occurred within a four-month period last year, have prompted serious concerns about hygiene standards at popular resorts on the West African islands.
The Victims and Their Stories
The recent fatalities include Elena Walsh, a 64-year-old part-time nurse from Birmingham, Mark Ashley, a 55-year-old forklift truck driver from Bedfordshire, Karen Pooley, a 64-year-old retired woman from Gloucestershire, and a 56-year-old man. All four British holidaymakers succumbed to severe gastric illnesses in separate incidents during 2025.
Mark Ashley's wife, Emma, 55, described her family's "complete shock" at his sudden death. "We went to Cape Verde expecting a relaxing break, but Mark became violently ill and never recovered," she revealed. The couple had booked their £3,000 holiday through Tui and stayed at the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal.
Detailed Accounts of the Tragedies
Three days into their October 2025 holiday, Mr Ashley developed alarming symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and extreme lethargy. Despite reporting his illness via the Tui app on 9 October and raising concerns about hotel hygiene, his condition deteriorated. After returning to the UK, the father-of-two, who managed diabetes with medication, collapsed at his Houghton Regis home and was rushed to hospital on 12 November, where he was pronounced dead minutes later.
Elena Walsh passed away in August 2025 after falling ill while staying at the Riu Cabo Verde resort on the same island. Karen Pooley's case proved particularly distressing - she travelled with a friend to the Riu Funana resort in Sal on 7 October 2025 for a two-week holiday, also booked through Tui.
The retired mother-of-two became unwell on 11 October with gastric symptoms including diarrhoea. In the early hours of the following day, she slipped on water leaking from a fridge while going to the bathroom, suffering a fractured femur. Transferred to a local clinic, she continued to suffer from diarrhoea and vomiting alongside severe pain from her injury. Ms Pooley was airlifted to Tenerife for urgent care on 16 October but died the next morning.
Families' Heartbreaking Testimonies
Karen Pooley's husband, Andy, 62, shared his devastation: "We're utterly heartbroken. Karen was the kindest, loveliest person. She was a devoted wife and mum who loved swimming, walking the dog in the Forest of Dean, and volunteered at a local charity shop." He noted his wife appeared in "significant distress" during video calls and criticised poor communication from the clinic and holiday provider.
"We were desperate for updates while watching Karen get worse," he added. "We're devastated and struggling to understand how she went on holiday and never came home." Ms Pooley's death certificate cited multi-organ failure, sepsis, cardio-respiratory arrest, and a broken left leg.
Broader Pattern of Illness and Death
These four individuals are among six Britons who have died following holidays to Cape Verde since January 2023, according to law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is investigating the cases. The other two fatalities include Jane Pressley, 62, of Gainsborough, who passed away in January 2023 after falling ill at the Riu Palace Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal, the previous November, and a man in his 60s from Watford, who died in November 2024 after suffering gastric illness.
Irwin Mitchell is representing the families of all six deceased individuals, as well as over 1,500 other people who have fallen ill after visits to Cape Verde. The families of all six deceased are pursuing personal injury claims for damages against Tui, which provided many of the package holidays to the island nation.
Legal Perspective and Urgent Calls for Action
Jatinder Paul, a serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, highlighted the severity of the situation: "The number of holidaymakers to Cape Verde being struck down with serious and debilitating gastric illnesses is truly staggering. Nothing brings the gravity of this situation into sharper focus than these recent deaths."
He continued: "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."
Mr Paul added: "It's almost incomprehensible that holidaymakers continue to describe the hygiene issues at these Cape Verde hotels year-after-year. Each case isn't a statistic; it's a human story of how lives have been turned upside down." He urged tour operators to take "meaningful and decisive action" to address the reported hygiene problems, emphasising their responsibility for the safety of package holiday customers.
The families' legal action represents a significant challenge to tour operators and resorts in Cape Verde, with Tui having been contacted for comment regarding these serious allegations about health and safety standards at their partnered accommodation.
