Tragedy Strikes British Tourists in Cape Verde as Illness Claims Six Lives
Six British holidaymakers have died after falling seriously ill during visits to Cape Verde, with four fatalities occurring within just four months, according to legal representatives. The families of all six victims, devastated by their losses, have now filed personal injury claims for damages against tour operator Tui.
Four Recent Deaths Highlight Alarming Pattern
The Sunday Times reports that Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham, was the first of four recent victims. She booked a £5,000 Tui package holiday with family members in August last year, only to contract a serious bug shortly after arrival. Initially diagnosed with appendicitis, Walsh suffered a heart attack during surgery and never regained consciousness. Her post-mortem revealed heart failure as the primary cause of death, with gastroenteritis listed as a secondary factor.
Karen Pooley, 64, from Gloucestershire, travelled to the Riu Funana resort in Sal in October 2025 for a £3,000 holiday booked through Tui. She fell ill with gastric symptoms just days into her trip, then suffered a fall that fractured her femur. After her condition deteriorated in hospital, she was airlifted to Tenerife but died the following day from multi-organ failure, sepsis, and cardio-respiratory arrest.
Mark Ashley, 55, of Bedfordshire, became ill within three days of arriving at the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal during October 2025. His symptoms included severe stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and extreme lethargy. Despite reporting his illness through Tui's app, his condition worsened after returning to the UK, and he collapsed at home in November, dying minutes after being rushed to hospital.
A fourth victim, an unnamed 56-year-old man from Chester, also died in similar circumstances after contracting a serious gastric illness while holidaying in Cape Verde.
Wider Pattern of Illness and Death Emerges
Lawyers from Irwin Mitchell, representing the grieving families, confirm these four cases are part of a wider pattern. Six British tourists have died after visiting Cape Verde since January 2023, with investigations into all cases still ongoing.
The two additional victims identified are:
- Jane Pressley, 62, of Gainsborough, who died in January 2023 after falling ill while staying at the Riu Palace Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal, the previous November
- A man in his 60s from Watford
Jatinder Paul, a serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, expressed grave concern about 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."
Families Left Devastated by Unexpected Losses
The emotional toll on surviving family members has been profound. Emma Ashley, 55, widow of Mark Ashley, described her family as being in "complete shock" over his sudden death. "We went to Cape Verde expecting a relaxing break, but Mark became violently ill and never recovered," she said.
Andy Pooley, 62, husband of Karen Pooley, spoke of 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. She was also a wonderful friend who lit up every room she entered."
Legal Action and Calls for Improved Standards
All six families are pursuing personal injury claims against Tui, seeking damages for their losses. Lawyers emphasise that while financial compensation cannot replace loved ones, establishing the facts and ensuring accountability are crucial steps.
Jatinder Paul highlighted the persistent nature of the problem: "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."
He continued: "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."
The legal firm has called for "meaningful and decisive action" to address reported hygiene issues on the islands, urging tour operators to work with authorities to ensure the highest safety standards are maintained. "Tour operators are responsible for ensuring the safety of those who have booked all-inclusive package holidays," Paul stated.
Tui has been contacted for comment regarding these tragic incidents and the ongoing legal claims.
