Jamie Foy, a resident of Wishaw in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, recently endured a significant health issue during what was intended to be a celebratory holiday in Cape Verde. The trip, which began on December 12, was a surprise for Foy's 40th birthday and was booked through TUI by his partner, Leanne Lynch, 41.
Initially excited, Foy’s holiday soon took a distressing turn. After consuming meals exclusively from the hotel's main buffet restaurant for the first three days, he began suffering from severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea. "It was a sharp pain like someone was poking my belly with a needle," Foy described his symptoms. His condition worsened, leading him to visit the on-site doctor, who diagnosed him with gastroenteritis and prescribed antibiotics, probiotics, and electrolytes.
Despite this diagnosis, Foy suspects he contracted shigella—a bacterial infection of the bowel—after consulting with a physician upon his return to the UK. He recounts a series of alarming symptoms, including passing blood, which he experienced the day before his scheduled departure from Cape Verde. By the end of his stay, he reported going to the toilet between 20 to 30 times a day, rendered unable to enjoy a pre-booked private birthday dinner where he could only manage three chips.
Prior to travelling, Foy had conducted research on the resort and discovered that other guests had reported illnesses. When he raised his concerns with TUI through his local travel provider, Foy claims they dismissed these reports as "nonsense." Following the ordeal, he expressed dissatisfaction with TUI's response to his illness, alleging that the company refused to take responsibility for the situation, citing a lack of "pathological evidence" as he did not provide stool samples.
Foy highlighted concerning observations about hygiene at the hotel, stating he noticed many guests failing to wash their hands and that there was a lack of sanitisation stations in the buffet areas. He stated, "I definitely didn't have food poisoning; I think it was bacterial from bad hygiene," adding that tables in the dining areas received only a quick wipe down after guests left.
His grievances have prompted him to declare he will not book with TUI again in the future. “It's my first TUI holiday and my last," he remarked.
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the hotel asserted that the health and safety of guests remains their "highest priority," claiming adherence to stringent health protocols in collaboration with local health authorities. Meanwhile, a TUI UK&I spokesperson expressed their regret over Foy's experience, emphasising that they were unable to provide further comment as the situation has become a legal matter.
Source: Noah Wire Services