A group of 40 sunseekers – including six West Yorkshire families – want compensation after a stay at the Riu Garopa and Riu Funana hotels on the Cape Verde islands, off the west African coast, left them seriously ill.

A further 70 people who were also affected have sought legal advice. Solicitors at Irwin Mitchell say calls are still coming in and they expect the number of complaints to hit 200.


Some guests who were there between August and October last year claim food at the hotels was undercooked, uneaten meals were re-served, and food was often left uncovered and unprotected from insects.

Barry Taylor, 66, and his wife Christine, 53, both from Rodley, Leeds, stayed at the Riu Garopa in September through tour operator Thomson.

Within days the pair started to suffer from painful stomach cramps and diarrhoea which left them room-bound for the whole fortnight's stay.

Mr Taylor said: "I've never experienced illness like this before. It was horrendous. It ruined our holiday and we're still suffering from some of the symptoms today, more than four months after the trip.

"The standards at the Garopa were disgraceful. There was a smell of sewage hanging around the place and there were huge cockroaches everywhere – in the dining room, the bedrooms, down the corridors. My wife managed to get into the town to get medication that a doctor prescribed but because there was so many people ill they had run out."
The Taylors have yet to have their illness diagnosed by their local GP but other guests have been told they had Shigella, a serious gastric illness that can be spread by consuming contaminated food or water.

Philip Banks, a partner at Irwin Mitchell, said: "Tour operators owe a duty of care towards all guests staying at hotels that they send them to. Based on information we have received about these two hotels, it appears that they have failed in this.

"The evidence indicates a serious problem with hygiene standards. This is completely unacceptable."

A spokesman for Thomson said tests carried out on food and hygiene standards when holidaymakers first fell ill found "no bacterial issues".
He went on to say: "We are genuinely concerned to learn of illness reported in our properties and would reassure customers their health and safety is of paramount importance.

"Our legal department has only recently been contacted by the solicitor acting on behalf of some customers. Until investigations into the allegations are complete we are unable to comment so as not to prejudice any future proceedings."