The man in his 50s has become the latest British person since January 2023 to die after becoming severely ill in Cape Verde while staying at the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria on the island of Sal, according to major media reports. This follows other fatalities at the same resort, including Jane Pressley, 62, of Gainsborough, who died in January 2023 after holidaying there, and Mark Ashley, 55, from Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, who died in November 2025 after a stay. Karen Pooley, 64, from Lydney, Gloucestershire, died in October 2025 after falling ill and suffering a broken leg while staying at the Riu Palace Santa Maria. Another victim, a father of two from Chester, 52, died after staying at the Riu hotel chain in Cape Verde, and Elena Walsh, 64, died in August 2025 after falling ill on the island of Sal while staying at Riu Cabo Verde. The total number of British tourist deaths linked to Cape Verde holidays remains unclear, as sources report different counts, with at least five confirmed cases.
Legal firm Irwin Mitchell is representing more than 1,500 holidaymakers who have reported becoming seriously unwell following visits to Cape Verde, and over 1,500 Britons have fallen ill after visiting the islands since October 2025. Two other families have instructed lawyers to investigate whether the deaths were connected to sickness in Cape Verde, adding to the growing scrutiny. Many of those affected had been staying at popular all-inclusive resorts in Sal, specifically those run by Riu Hotels and booked through TUI, according to major media reports.
Families have raised concerns about hygiene standards at these resorts, with reports of undercooked food, poor sanitation, and water storage left exposed to the sun. One victim suffered a fractured femur after slipping on water from a leaking fridge, highlighting safety hazards. The exact cause of death for each victim, including whether gastric illness was the direct or sole cause, has not been confirmed, and the response and actions taken by Riu Hotels, TUI, or Cape Verdean authorities to address the hygiene and safety issues remain unknown.
In the latest case, the victim's family travelled to Cape Verde on 11 August 2025 for a week-long all-inclusive holiday costing over £6,000, booked through TUI. The latest victim fell ill two days into the holiday with symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal cramping pains, and vomiting, and started being sick and suffering from diarrhoea and loss of appetite on the third day of the trip. His wife said he suffered symptoms for 12 weeks before suffering multi-organ failure and dying on 2 November 2025, and he was the only person in his group to get sick.
Medical context reveals that the latest victim was immunosuppressed, which may have contributed to the severity of his illness. Researchers have discovered Shigella bacteria in irrigation water used to wash food and on some imported food in Cape Verde, and the UK Health Security Agency found that 112 out of 118 Shigella cases reported between October 2025 and February 2026 were linked to tourists who had visited the islands. The specific source or sources of the Shigella bacteria contamination in Cape Verde's food and water systems are still under investigation.
Unanswered questions persist about the exact causes of the illnesses and deaths, with ongoing investigations by health or regulatory agencies into the outbreak and deaths yet to be fully detailed. The situation underscores the need for clarity on contamination sources and official responses to prevent further incidents.