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Gedney Hill's Elizabeth Sutton vows never to go abroad again after Tui trip to Cape Verde turned into holiday from hell




A distraught woman has vowed to never travel abroad again after a planned seven-day stay in paradise became a holiday from hell.

Health issues - believed to be caused by a pungent smell of ‘sewage’ from their room - led doctors to fear Elizabeth Sutton was having a stroke.

Elizabeth (46), of Gedney Hill, travelled to Cape Verde with mum Patricia Reid last month, but the holidaymakers soon noticed a problem with their room at the five-star Hotel Rui Palace in Santa Maria.

Elizabeth Sutton (right) with mum Patricia Reid
Elizabeth Sutton (right) with mum Patricia Reid

“On day two we started noticing a horrible smell in the bedroom, mainly when you flushed the toilet or ran any water in the bathroom. It was awful,” Elizabeth explained.

“We were offered various rooms but they all had the same smell.

“I started getting a headache that evening and my mum was constantly using her inhaler. She lives in India for six months of the year but never needs to use her inhaler, only when it’s damp and cold she struggles.”

With travel firm Tui telling the pair it would take at least 48 hours to relocate them, Elizabeth and Patricia slept that night with their bathroom doors closed and balcony open in a bid to escape the stench.

“The next morning the smell was awful. Like I was in the part of a septic tank where the poo goes. It was that intense,” Elizabeth continued.

“I had a really horrific headache and was struggling to breathe. My eyes were bright red.”

Elizabeth decided to attend hospital but said she ‘couldn’t breathe’ by the time she arrived, staff rushing her to a bed when she was put on oxygen and fitted with a cannula.

“They thought I was having a stroke,” she said.

“I had a heart rate that was dangerously high, my blood pressure was through the roof and I couldn’t breathe.

“My mum phoned my stepdad and said ‘I think Elizabeth’s coming home in a box’ that’s how bad it was.”

Elizabeth Sutton (60558573)
Elizabeth Sutton (60558573)

After spending 11 hours in a small hospital bed, 6’6” Elizabeth was allowed to check into the Hilton hotel opposite the hospital.

But not long after relocating she began suffering from sickness and diarrhoea.

“The only place I’d eaten was the original hotel,” added Elizabeth.

“The food there wasn’t covered.

“I don’t eat a lot of meat, don’t eat fish, won’t touch salad and ice cream abroad and I will only drink bottled water and Coke in sealed bottles, yet I got really poorly.”

Another visit to hospital followed before Elizabeth was able to return to her room, although not feeling well, later discovering she had also contracted Covid as well as her bacterial infection.

Cape Verde coronavirus rules meant she had to sign a form to say she would not leave her room - or face prison.

But as the sickness, diarrhoea and headaches continued, Elizabeth was given dispensation to return to hospital.

By now the blood pressure medication she had been taking since she was 23 was running out and, due to taking large amounts of medication for her illnesses, contracted oral thrush.

In total, a seven-day holiday saw Elizabeth and Patricia in Cape Verde for 19 days, running up additional costs of £6,500 on top of the planned £2,500 getaway.

Now back home but still not feeling back to full health, Elizabeth has pledged to never allow her nightmare to be repeated.

“I’m never going abroad again,” she said.

“If I ever think about it I’ll look at the photos I’ve taken and that’ll remind me to stay here.”

Facebook group set up to share stories

After returning from Cape Verde, Elizabeth Sutton decided to set-up a Facebook group to warn others of her experiences.

Little did she expect the high-level of responses she’d receive - with more than 500 people sharing similar stories.

“I set up a group on Facebook and I thought maybe 50 people would join as I heard other people weren’t well too,” Elizabeth explained.

“The reason I set the group up was to hopefully prevent other people from going there and having the same experience that I’ve had.

“There are now 536 people who have joined.”

Solicitors Irwin Mitchell are now representing 100 holidaymakers, using comments and experiences on the group to aid their case.

Jennifer Hodgson, the specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell supporting those affected, said: “We’re working with more than 80 people whose holidays were ruined by illness.

“Many of those continue to suffer from ongoing symptoms after returning to the UK.

“Gastric illness can lead to long term health issues and their effect should never be downplayed.

“Understandably, those we represent have many questions about how they fell ill, while many of the group have queried why they weren’t informed of illness at the hotel, before they arrived at the resort.

“We’re determined to establish the answers our clients deserve and to support all of them following what has been a terrible experience.

“If during the course of our investigations any issues are identified, it’s vital that lessons are learned to ensure that other travellers aren’t left with ruined holidays and potential long-term illnesses.

“As part of our work and to assist with our investigations, we would be keen to hear from anyone else who may also have been affected by illness whilst staying at the Hotel Riu Palace, Santa Maria, Cape Verde.”

Tui 'sorry to hear of experiences'

Responding to the claims, a Tui spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear of these experiences at the Riu Palace in Cape Verde. As this is now a legal matter, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

“We’d like to reassure customers that we regularly audit all of our hotels in respect to health and safety, including hygiene.”



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