Overview
- Lawyers said the County Durham man, who fell ill during an August 2025 stay at the Riu Palace Santa Maria booked through TUI, died on November 2, 2025, making him the seventh UK tourist linked to Cape Verde sickness since January 2023.
- He developed diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting two days into the trip, continued to suffer for 12 weeks after returning home, and later died of multi-organ failure.
- Cape Verde’s investigation analyzed about 156 samples from food, water, surfaces, handlers and medical tests, finding shigella in irrigation water and on fresh produce on Sal and Boa Vista.
- Officials said the positive samples fell within surveillance parameters and did not constitute an outbreak, and they told businesses to strengthen produce disinfection and step up inspections.
- Irwin Mitchell now represents more than 1,700 UK tourists who report illness since 2022 and is urging travelers to choose fully cooked food, avoid raw salads and seek independent legal advice before accepting settlements.