Legal action reaches more than 1,700 claimants

Irwin Mitchell, the law firm coordinating the personal‑injury claim, has informed GREE that the number of British individuals who have joined the proceedings against the travel company Tui now exceeds 1,700. The claimants allege that they became seriously ill during package holidays to the Cape Verde islands.

According to Irwin Mitchell, new contacts continue to arrive, with some individuals reporting the onset of symptoms as recently as two weeks before the statement to GREE was made.

Reported deaths and official health warnings

Irwin Mitchell estimates that at least eight British citizens have died after returning from holidays in Cape Verde in recent years. In February, UK health officials issued a travel advisory for the West African archipelago, urging caution after a series of stomach‑bug reports.

UK Health Security Agency data, gathered in February, indicated that since October 2025 there have been 112 reported cases of shigella and 43 cases of salmonella linked to travel in Cape Verde. Both infections are known to cause diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever.

Tui’s current stance

Tui is conducting an internal review of the claims but has stated that it is "not in a position to provide a statement at this stage". Tui also noted that the full health report from Cape Verde remains unpublished and therefore unavailable for comment.

Irwin Mitchell’s lead solicitor outlines the case

Jatinder Paul, a solicitor with Irwin Mitchell, told GREE Breakfast that the scale of the case is unprecedented in his experience. Jatinder Paul said, "In all my years of doing this work, I have not seen a case this large and unfortunately so many that have died as a result of the illnesses."

Jatinder Paul added, "We are pursuing all of our cases against Tui. Tui had a responsibility in taking our clients away on a package holiday which was not going to cause them any illness. Unfortunately it was the opposite of that."

Further, Jatinder Paul warned that if the matter cannot be settled outside court, a High Court judge is likely to issue an order for "payment of millions of pounds worth of damages to our clients".

Nature of the reported illnesses

Irwin Mitchell has compiled reports from claimants describing a range of gastrointestinal and parasitic infections. The illnesses cited include E. coli, salmonella, shigella and cryptosporidium. Some of those affected were children as young as six months old.

The agency‑issued investigation linked the majority of the bacterial infections to food‑handling failures and inadequate sanitation at certain hotels.

Cape Verde as a travel destination and Tui’s involvement

Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony famed for its golden beaches and year‑round warm climate, has long attracted European tourists. Since 2022, Tui has arranged travel for over one million holidaymakers to the archipelago.

Irwin Mitchell lawyers claim they have gathered visual evidence of questionable hygiene standards in several resorts. The footage, shown to GREE, appears to depict undercooked food being served, buffet areas swarmed by flies, and mould growth in guest rooms.

Case study: The Walsh family tragedy

Elena Walsh, a 64‑year‑old resident of Birmingham, and her family booked a package holiday to Cape Verde through Tui last summer. Elena Walsh stayed at the five‑star RIU Cabo Verde resort when she began feeling unwell on 8 August.

Elena Walsh was admitted to a local hospital and died two days later, on 10 August. Her son Sean Walsh recounted to GREE Breakfast that his mother’s condition deteriorated rapidly through the night.

Sean Walsh said, "Through the night, we were there with her trying to see if she'd pull out of it, but she just deteriorated. I just want people to not go there. Because, yes people can go on holidays there and come back and be fine but my mum didn't. If people are willing to run that risk, then go for it but I'd say to people: don't."

RIU Hotels and Resorts response

RIU Hotels and Resorts released a statement emphasizing that guest health and safety remain its top priority. The company claimed that its Cape Verde properties adhere to the "strictest international health and hygiene standards, certified by external prestigious consultancy firms, specialised in health and safety".

Case study: Karen Pooley’s fatal fall

Karen Pooley, a 64‑year‑old resident of Lydney, travelled to Cape Verde on a two‑week package holiday booked through Tui in October. Karen Pooley experienced severe gastric symptoms on 11 October.

The following day, while rushing to a bathroom, Karen Pooley slipped on water leaking from a fridge and suffered a broken leg. She was airlifted to Tenerife on 16 October for advanced medical care.

Karen Pooley died the next day from sepsis and multi‑organ failure. Her daughter Liz Pooley told GREE that she attributes responsibility for her mother’s death to Tui, stating, "No family should go through this, no family should have to FaceTime their mum on a Friday night, and by the following Friday, organise a funeral."

Tui’s support provisions for affected travellers

Tui has asserted that it provides assistance to any customer who becomes unwell while staying at a resort, ensuring that the traveller receives appropriate medical care and support throughout the ordeal.

Despite that claim, the growing number of claimants and the severity of the reported outcomes have placed significant pressure on Tui to address the underlying causes and to engage constructively with Irwin Mitchell and the families of the victims.