Man's £2,500 Dream Holiday Ruined by Illness After Eating at Resort

A man claims his £2,500 dream holiday turned into a nightmare after he fell seriously ill, experiencing severe stomach issues and bleeding while using the toilet.

Jamie Foy had been treated to a surprise getaway to a luxury five-star resort in Cape Verde by his partner, Leanne Lynch, to celebrate his 40th birthday. The couple departed on December 12, but Jamie said his concerns began even before arriving.

“When I looked up the destination online, I came across reports of other travellers getting sick in Cape Verde,” he said. “I raised it with my local travel agent, who contacted TUI, and they dismissed it as nonsense. But then I got sick myself and the whole trip was ruined.”

Jamie said he ate only at the resort’s main buffet restaurant for the first few days, but by the third day, he began experiencing sharp abdominal cramps and diarrhea.
“Every meal caused pain — like being poked with a needle,” he recalled. “My stomach was constantly churning.”

By Sunday night, he developed chills and uncontrollable shivering. Despite this, he tried to attend a private beach dinner arranged by Leanne for his birthday on Tuesday — but could only manage three chips before needing to rush to the toilet repeatedly during the meal.

“The experience was meant to be three hours long. I had to leave the table eight times,” he said.

By Wednesday, his condition worsened, and he began passing blood and needing the bathroom up to 30 times a day. A visit to the on-site doctor led to a diagnosis of gastroenteritis, and he was given antibiotics, probiotics, and electrolytes.

Once back in the UK, NHS staff suspected Jamie had contracted shigella, a bacterial infection spread through poor hygiene, though they couldn’t confirm it as he was already recovering.

Jamie believes the resort's cleanliness may have been to blame. “I saw lots of people not washing their hands, and the buffet areas didn’t have hand sanitiser,” he said. “Tables were just quickly wiped down between guests.”

After returning home, Jamie contacted TUI directly and through the travel agency that booked the trip, but says TUI refused to accept responsibility due to the lack of medical proof such as stool samples.

“Their response really frustrated me,” he said. “This was my first and last holiday with TUI. I’ve never been this sick on a trip, and I’ve never filed a complaint before.”

TUI stated that customer safety is a priority and that they’re sorry to hear Jamie was unwell, but due to ongoing legal matters, they cannot provide further comment.
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The hotel also said they follow strict hygiene protocols and work with local health authorities to ensure the safety of all guests and staff.