Lawyer who inspected Cape Verde hotel shares concern for holidaymakers
Holiday Lawyers • March 30, 2026
Holiday Lawyers is concerned to learn of further reported fatalities in Cape Verde, which may be linked to poor hygiene standards in hotels and form part of a wider pattern of serious gastrointestinal illness affecting British travellers.
Our lawyers have previously travelled to Cape Verde to investigate conditions within resort hotels and have been concerned by what they observed in relation to food hygiene and safety practices. We have been contacted by a number of individuals who have suffered significant illness following holidays in Cape Verde, and we have extensive experience handling claims arising from such outbreaks.
Our lead partner has dealt with multiple cases involving illness in Cape Verde and was directly involved in investigations on the ground. These issues have also attracted national media attention, including reporting by The Telegraph.
He previously led the team at Irwin Mitchell acting for claimants affected by illness outbreaks in Cape Verde. While that firm continues to represent individuals in similar cases, he now brings that experience and insight to clients through Holiday Lawyers.
Holiday Lawyers has been instructed to investigate a potential holiday illness claim after a nine year old boy was hospitalised for three nights with acute gastroenteritis following a Jet2 package holiday to the Calista Luxury Resort in Belek, Turkey. The child became seriously unwell during the family’s stay and required admission to hospital, where he underwent blood and stool testing, received intravenous fluids and antibiotic treatment before eventually being discharged. The family has retained comprehensive medical records, hospital reports and invoices relating to the illness, and has now instructed Holiday Lawyers to advise on a potential claim. Amandeep Dhillon, Founder of Holiday Lawyers, said: “Every parent dreads seeing their child become seriously ill while abroad. What should have been a relaxing family holiday instead resulted in a hospital admission, invasive investigations and several days of treatment. “We are now reviewing the available evidence, including the medical records and chronology of events, to assess the merits of a claim. Cases involving hospitalisation overseas often require careful investigation and early preservation of evidence. “We would usually recommend that holidaymakers seek specialist legal advice before entering into detailed correspondence with the tour operator, as the way a claim is presented from the outset can be important.” Holiday Lawyers has represented thousands of holidaymakers over many years and recovered millions of pounds in compensation for clients affected by illness abroad. The firm is currently acting for clients in relation to food poisoning and gastric illness claims arising from a number of destinations worldwide. If you or a member of your family has suffered serious illness during a package holiday abroad, Holiday Lawyers offers a free initial assessment of your potential claim.
The summer holidays are an important time for families to take a break and enjoy time together, but sadly every year, thousands of British holidaymakers experience illness, accidents or other serious problems while on holiday. Taking steps to make sure you are health and safe should always come first, but the steps you take in the hours and days afterwards can make a significant difference if you later decide to pursue a legal claim. 1. Seek medical attention immediately Your health comes first. Attend the hotel doctor, local medical centre or hospital as soon as possible. Medical records often become important evidence. 2. Report the incident Whether you have suffered food poisoning, an accident or another issue, report it to the hotel and, if applicable, your tour operator. Ask for a copy of any incident report. 3. Take photographs and videos Photograph anything relevant, including unsafe conditions, defective equipment, poor hygiene, contaminated food or your injuries. Visual evidence can be invaluable. 4. Keep receipts Retain receipts for medical treatment, medication, transport, replacement accommodation and any other expenses you incur because of the incident. 5. Preserve evidence where possible If food appears undercooked or contaminated, or faulty equipment caused an injury, preserve photographs and any other evidence where it is safe to do so. 6. Speak to witnesses If other guests witnessed what happened or were also affected, ask whether they are willing to provide their contact details. 7. Keep a diary Make a daily note of your symptoms, pain, treatment, disruption to your holiday and activities you were unable to enjoy. Contemporary notes can provide valuable evidence. 8. Don’t feel pressured Avoid signing documents you do not understand or accepting explanations before the circumstances have been properly investigated. 9. Speak to a specialist solicitor Obtaining specialist legal advice at an early stage can help preserve important evidence and ensure your claim gets off to the strongest possible start. Why Choose Holiday Lawyers? Our team has recovered millions of pounds in compensation for holidaymakers whose holidays have been ruined by illness, accidents and safety failures abroad. We have acted for thousands of clients , including in some of the UK’s largest international group claims, and have experience handling cases involving food poisoning outbreaks, serious injuries, hotel accidents, cruise claims and package holiday litigation across the world. If your holiday has been affected through no fault of your own, contact Holiday Lawyers for a free, no obligation assessment of your case.
