Luxury holidays are supposed to be a time for relaxation and indulgence, but for hundreds of travelers who visited the Riu Palace Santa Maria Hotel in Cape Verde in 2022, their dream getaways turned into nightmares. The five-star, all-inclusive resort, a flagship property for travel giant TUI, is now at the center of a £5 million lawsuit after a wave of severe gastric illnesses struck guests—leaving some with long-term health complications and, tragically, leading to several deaths.
According to The Independent and Express, the legal action—brought on behalf of approximately 300 holidaymakers—alleges that TUI and its hotel partner failed to maintain basic hygiene standards. Claimants blame improperly prepared food and drink, unsanitary swimming pools, infestations of cockroaches, and even stray dogs roaming the private beach for the outbreak. The lawsuit, spearheaded by law firm Irwin Mitchell, is the first of its kind related to Cape Verde’s recent surge in tourist illnesses to reach the UK High Court, with a six-week trial scheduled for the end of 2026.
For many, the ordeal began innocuously enough. Guests arrived at the Riu Palace Santa Maria—perched on the sun-drenched island of Sal—eager to enjoy its waterpark, six swimming pools, spa, and array of restaurants. But as summer 2022 wore on, reports of sickness began to mount. By October, a staggering 110 people had fallen ill in a single month, according to legal documents cited by The Mirror. In total, over 1,500 tourists reported gastric illnesses after visiting Cape Verde, with the majority of cases linked to TUI’s flagship resort.
The symptoms described by claimants are harrowing: stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, and, in some cases, far more serious complications. The lead claimant, Nicky Morley from Paignton, Devon, recounted her ordeal in a statement: “Since the holiday, I’ve struggled to socialise or eat out with friends as I’m anxious about my bowel issues. My whole life has been affected.” Morley fell ill just a day into her stay in May 2022, was hospitalized in Cape Verde, and has since lost more than four stone in weight. Her story is echoed by many others, some of whom continue to suffer chronic symptoms or have developed conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and, in one case, even suffered a stroke.
The most devastating outcomes, however, were fatal. Six tourists have died since January 2023 after contracting stomach bugs linked to Cape Verde, including four British holidaymakers in just three months during 2025. Among the deceased is Jane Pressley, a 62-year-old mother of two from Gainsborough, who became ill two days into her holiday at the Riu Palace Santa Maria. According to The Independent, her condition worsened upon returning to the UK, and she was hospitalized on Christmas Eve 2022 with suspected bacterial infection. Despite treatment, she died weeks later in January 2023. Her widower, Michael Pressley, is among those seeking compensation as part of the group action.
The claimants’ case rests on a pattern of environmental and food safety failures at the resort. Legal documents presented to the court detail allegations of undercooked food, dirty swimming pool water, unsanitary guest rooms infested with pests, and beaches contaminated by stray dogs and their droppings. As the claim states: “The claimants were all staying at the hotel on an all-inclusive basis, so that they all ate and drank exclusively—or in some cases predominantly—at the hotel during their time in Cape Verde before they became ill.”
Irwin Mitchell’s international serious injury lawyer, Jatinder Paul, underscored the gravity of the situation: “For several years, we’ve had numerous holidaymakers instructing us to investigate serious illnesses linked to stays in Cape Verde. This is the first group action to go before the courts and therefore a major milestone in our clients’ quest for answers. Those holidaymakers in this group action suffered serious and debilitating illnesses. The impact of serious gastric illnesses should never be downplayed. They can lead to long-term health complications, and in some cases, can even prove fatal.”
TUI, for its part, is denying liability. According to The Mirror and Express, the company is vigorously defending itself in court. The High Court judge, Master Mark Gidden, has ordered that the trial proceed by way of 30 lead claimants, whose cases—ranging from simple to complex—will serve as a representative sample for the broader group. The outcome will likely determine the fate of all 300 claims, which collectively seek more than £5 million in damages.
The legal battle comes amid mounting public health concerns. Last week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a stark warning to travelers considering trips to Cape Verde. Since October 1, 2025, the agency has identified 118 cases of shigella and 43 of salmonella linked to travel to the West African archipelago. Dr. Gauri Godbole, UKHSA’s deputy director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, emphasized the importance of basic hygiene: “The best way to avoid gastrointestinal infections, including shigella and salmonella, or passing them to others, is simply by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water or alcohol gel—particularly after using the toilet, changing nappies, and before eating or preparing food.”
Health officials now advise travelers to Cape Verde to eat only freshly prepared, fully cooked food served piping hot, use bottled or boiled water, avoid ice in drinks, and only eat fruit they’ve peeled themselves. Salads that may not have been washed in clean water are to be avoided, as are any foods that could have been contaminated by unclean hands or surfaces. These recommendations, while practical, are cold comfort to those already affected.
The case has also brought renewed scrutiny to the booming all-inclusive holiday industry, particularly in regions where infrastructure and regulatory oversight may lag behind the influx of international tourists. The Riu Palace Santa Maria, with its sprawling amenities and promise of luxury, attracted thousands of British holidaymakers in search of winter sun. But as the court prepares to hear the full extent of the claims, questions linger about accountability and the responsibilities of tour operators to safeguard their guests’ health.
For now, the affected families and individuals wait for justice—and for answers. The upcoming trial promises to shed light not only on the specific failures at one Cape Verde resort but also on the wider risks facing travelers in an era of mass tourism and global mobility. As the judge prepares to hear the stories of 30 representative claimants, the outcome will resonate far beyond the beaches of Sal.
The hope, for many, is that lessons will be learned and that future holidays will bring only the memories they were meant to create: of joy, relaxation, and peace of mind.