'My luxury £4k TUI holiday turned into trip from hell - I've never been so ill'

Some have described contracting illnesses that still affect them (Image: SWNS)

Over 200 more British holidaymakers are taking legal action after being struck down with illnesses on TUI breaks in Cape Verde - bringing the total number to more than 1,100.

Lawyers are now representing 1,107 people who were struck down with serious gastric illnesses at luxury hotels on the African island in the last three years.

Hundreds were left hospitalised as a result of their symptoms after their five-star breaks turned into 'holidays from hell' - and include children as young as three.

Illnesses include E.coli, salmonella and the bacterial infection shigella which can have a long-standing impact on the bowel, and can even prove to be fatal.

All of the 1,107 booked their holidays through the tour operator TUI.

Over 200 holidaymakers are taking legal action against TUI (Image: Getty)

The new group to seek legal action includes 40 tourists who fell ill during and following stays at Riu Palace Santa Maria in Sal, Cape Verde, this year.

Eleven were hospitalised and the hotel is the place where most people have fallen ill
with 396 holidaymakers, including 63 this year, coming forward.

Meanwhile, Riu Funana is second with 218 cases,18 this year. Riu Cabo Verde has seen 192 cases - 56 in 2024 - since 2022.

Diane Taylor, 57, an accounts co-ordinator from Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, fell ill after paying £4,156 to stay at the Riu Palace Santa Maria in Sal, Cape Verde, in August.

Diane was travelling with her husband John, when five days into the holiday, she was struck down with severe diarrhoea, coupled with shooting pains throughout her body, shivers, fatigue and loss of appetite.

For many, Cape Verde was supposed to be a luxury getaway (Image: Getty)

The couple said they had a number of concerns about the standards at the hotel and believed that others had fallen ill at the same time they were staying.

They found cockroaches in their hotel room and said they were such a common occurrence that hotel staff gave Diane a can of bug spray to deal with them.

On arrival, they found cockroaches in their room and that the pair were so concerned about food hygiene standards that they complained in a letter to TUI.

Diane said: “It was the worst holiday ever. It was really terrible and for those several days, I have never felt so ill in my life. I wasn’t able to eat due to the stomach cramps and nausea.

“We’ve now seen so many terrible reports and stories from people who stayed at this hotel. It feels like there are many concerns and that people need answers.

“I want to know what’s going on and what is being done to stop others from falling ill like I did.”

Diane described the holiday as "the worst ever" (Image: SWNS)

Sarah Tootell, from Bury, Greater Manchester, is another holidaymaker who has asked Irwin Mitchell lawyers to investigate her illness.

Having lost her husband over six years ago, the trip was the first time Sarah travelled alone with her daughter and was intended as a chance for a break and scatter her husband’s ashes whilst there.

Ms Tootell said: “I’m pretty fit but you worry what would happen if someone more vulnerable went down with such an illness and people need the facts.”

Jatinder Paul, the international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell supporting the holidaymakers, said: “Despite all the reports of illness from guests who have stayed at hotels in Cape Verde, it’s staggering to think that three years after the first reports, we’re continuing to see significant numbers coming forward reporting debilitating illness.

“Our clients continue to report alarmingly similar illnesses and are understandably angry at how this state of affairs has been allowed to continue.

“We’d be interested in hearing from other guests who have fallen ill at these hotels in the Cape Verde this year as we investigate whether there is a common source of infection.”

TUI has been approached for comment.