More than 1,700 British tourists have joined a record-breaking personal injury claim against travel giant TUI following a surge in severe gastric illnesses and suspected fatalities in the Cape Verde islands.
Legal representatives from Irwin Mitchell, the firm spearheading the litigation, confirmed that the number of claimants has escalated as reports of infections continue to emerge. The lawsuit alleges that a minimum of eight British citizens have died in recent years as a direct result of health complications following stays in the West African archipelago.
The travel operator has faced intense scrutiny after tourists reported contracting dangerous pathogens, including E. coli, salmonella, and shigella. Health officials in the United Kingdom previously issued advisories regarding travel to the region after data indicated a significant rise in stomach-related ailments among returning vacationers.
Jatinder Paul, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, stated that the scale of the case is unprecedented in his professional experience. He noted that the firm is prepared to escalate the matter to the High Court to secure substantial compensation for those affected.
“They 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,” Paul told BBC Breakfast. “We expect a judge in the High Court to make an order which would involve payment of millions of pounds worth of damages.”
TUI has indicated that it is currently reviewing the allegations but remains unable to provide a comprehensive response until an unpublished Cape Verde health report is released. The company maintains that it offers assistance to any guests who fall ill while at their resorts.
SOURCES: Irwin Mitchell solicitors, BBC News, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), TUI, RIU Hotels and Resorts.
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