Cape Verde TUI holidays horror as 4 Brits die after being ‘struck down by abdomen bug’

Elena Walsh, 64, Mark Ashley, 55, Karen Pooley, 64, and a 56-year-old man all died after contracting severe gastric illnesses while staying at Riu resorts on the islands off the coast of west Africa

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Four British holidaymakers have died within a four-month period after being struck down by stomach bugs whilst vacationing in Cape Verde. That’s according to solicitors representing their families.

Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham, Mark Ashley, 55, of Bedfordshire, 64-year-old Karen Pooley, from Gloucestershire, and a 56-year-old man all passed away last year following severe gastric illnesses contracted on the islands situated off west Africa’s coastline.

These four fatalities form part of six British deaths linked to Cape Verde holidays since January 2023, with law firm Irwin Mitchell confirming that investigations into the deaths remain “ongoing”.

Emma Ashley, 55, the widow of Mr Ashley, revealed her family remains in “complete shock” following his passing.

“We went to Cape Verde expecting a relaxing break, but Mark became violently ill and never recovered,” she said.

Just three days into their October getaway, Mr Ashley, who worked as a self-employed forklift truck driver, developed symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and extreme lethargy, Irwin Mitchell stated.

The legal firm confirmed it is acting for the families of all six deceased individuals, alongside more than 1,500 people who have fallen unwell after trips to the nation.

Mrs Ashley, who works as an early years assistant manager, explained they had booked their £3,000-plus holiday through Tui, and that she logged her husband’s illness on the company’s app on October 9, 2025.

She revealed that she and her husband, who had been wed for 26 years, were staying at the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal. The 55-year-old has voiced concerns about the cleanliness standards at the hotel.

Upon their return to the UK, Mr Ashley, a father of two, continued to experience symptoms for some time, his wife revealed.

After collapsing at home in Houghton Regis, Mr Ashley, who managed his diabetes with medication, was rushed to hospital on November 12 but was declared dead within minutes.

His death has been referred to the coroner and investigations are ongoing, according to Irwin Mitchell.

Part-time nurse and mother-of-one Ms Walsh passed away in August 2025 after falling ill while staying at the Riu Cabo Verde resort on the same island.

Ms Pooley, from Lydney, embarked on a two-week holiday costing £3,000 to the Riu Funana resort in Sal on October 7, 2025, booked through Tui, the law firm stated.

The retired mother-of-two fell ill on October 11 with gastric symptoms including diarrhoea, and in the early hours of the next day she slipped on water leaking from a fridge while going to the bathroom.

She was taken to a local clinic and over the next four days, Ms Pooley continued to suffer from diarrhoea and vomiting, alongside severe pain from her fractured femur.

The 64-year-old was airlifted to Tenerife for urgent care on October 16 and passed away in the early hours of the following day, lawyers said.

Her husband Andy, 62, expressed: “We’re utterly heartbroken. Karen was the kindest, loveliest person. She was a devoted wife and mum who loved swimming, walking the dog in the Forest of Dean, and volunteered at a local charity shop. She was also a wonderful friend who lit up every room she entered.”

He described his wife as appearing to be in “significant distress” during a family video call from home, criticising the lack of communication from the clinic and their holiday provider.

“We were desperate for updates while watching Karen get worse,” he expressed. We’re devastated and struggling to understand how she went on holiday and never came home.”

Irwin Mitchell revealed that Ms Pooley’s initial death certificate, issued by the Cape Verde authorities, stated she died of multi-organ failure, sepsis, cardio‐respiratory arrest and a broken left leg.

The other two Britons who have passed away since 2023 are Jane Pressley, 62, from Gainsborough, who died in January 2023 after falling ill whilst on holiday at Riu Palace Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal, the previous November, and a man in his 60s from Watford.

He passed away in November 2024 after suffering from a gastric illness following a trip to Cape Verde, according to Irwin Mitchell.

The families of all six individuals are filing personal injury claims for damages against Tui, the provider of many package holidays to the island nation.

Jatinder Paul, a serious injury solicitor at the firm, expressed his shock: “The number of holidaymakers to Cape Verde being struck down with serious and debilitating gastric illnesses is truly staggering. Nothing brings the gravity of this situation into sharper focus than these recent deaths.

“In my experience I’m used to supporting holidaymakers who have fallen ill at resorts across the globe, but I’ve never seen repeated and continued illness outbreaks at the same resorts on such a scale over such a period of time.

“It’s almost incomprehensible that holidaymakers continue to describe the hygiene issues at these Cape Verde hotels year-after-year. Each case isn’t a statistic; it’s a human story of how lives have been turned upside down.

“Understandably, those we represent have serious concerns about hygiene standards in Cape Verde. While nothing can makeup for what’s happened, we’re determined to at least help establish the answers they deserve.

“In the meantime, we call for meaningful and decisive action to get on top of the reported hygiene issues on the islands. Tour operators are responsible for ensuring the safety of those who have booked all-inclusive package holidays. Therefore, we urge them to work with the authorities to ensure the highest hygiene and safety standards are always upheld.”

Tui has been approached for a response.