A law firm is representing the families of people who died and more than 1,500 people who have fallen ill after visits to the country
(Image: Getty Images)
Four British people have died within four months after contracting a stomach bug while on holiday in Cape Verde.
Lawyers representing the families have confirmed the deaths of Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham, Mark Ashley, 55, of Bedfordshire, 64-year-old Karen Pooley, from Gloucestershire, and a 56-year-old man died.
The four people last year after they were struck down with a severe gastric illness while on the coast of west Africa. They are four out of six Britons who have died there after holidaying in the area since January 2023.
Law firm, Irwin Mitchell confirmed that the investigations into the deaths are “ongoing”. Mr Ashley’s wife Emma said her family are in “complete shock” following his death.
“We went to Cape Verde expecting a relaxing break, but Mark became violently ill and never recovered,” she said.
Elena Walsh(Image: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
Mark and Emma were only three days into their holiday in October when Mr Ashley fell ill. He began complaining of symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and extreme lethargy, a spokesperson for the families at Irwin Mitchell reported. .
The firm is representing the families of the six people who died and more than 1,500 people who have fallen ill after visits to the country. Mr Ashley, who works as an early years assistant manager, said the trip cost more than £3,000 with Tui.
She confirmed that she and her husband, of 26 years, had stayed at the five‑star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal. She has also raised concerns about the hygiene standards of the hotel.
When the couple returned to the UK, father of two, Mr Ashley continued to experience symptoms of the illness. When he collapsed at their home in Houghton Regis, he was taken to hospital on November 12 but was pronounced dead just minutes later.
Santa Maria, a resort town on the southern tip of Sal Island,(Image: Getty Images)
Investigations into his death are continuing and has been referred to a coroner, Irwin Mitchell said. Another holidaymaker, Ms Walsh, a mother of one and part time nurse, fell ill in August 2025 while staying at the same resort on the island.
Ms Pooley, from Lydney, travelled with a friend to the Riu Funana resort in Sal on October 7, 2025 for a fortnight’s holiday. The trip cost £3,000 and was also booked through Tui, the law firm said.
The retired mother-of-two became sick on October 11 with similar gastric symptoms to Mr Ashley, including diarrhoea. However, in the early hours of the following day, Ms Pooley slipped on water leaking from a fridge while going to the bathroom.
She was taken to a local clinic and over the next four days Ms Pooley continued to experience symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting, alongside severe pain from her fractured femur. She was then airlifted to Tenerife for urgent care on October 16.
Sadly, the 64 year old died in the early hours of the next day. Her husband Andy, 62, said: “We’re utterly heartbroken. Karen was the kindest, loveliest person.
“She was a devoted wife and mum who loved swimming, walking the dog in the Forest of Dean, and volunteered at a local charity shop. She was also a wonderful friend who lit up every room she entered.”
He confirmed that his wife appeared to be “significant distress” when the family video-called her from home. He claimed communication from the clinic and their holiday provider was poor.
Elena Walsh with her husband, Patrick, and son Sean(Image: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
“We were desperate for updates while watching Karen get worse. We’re devastated and struggling to understand how she went on holiday and never came home.”
Irwin Mitchell explained that Ms Pooley’s initial death certificate, which was issued by the Cape Verde authorities, said she died of multi-organ failure, sepsis, cardio‑respiratory arrest and a broken left leg.
Since 2023, two other Britons have died: Jane Pressley, 62, of Gainsborough, who died in January after falling ill while holidaying at Riu Palace Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal, the previous November, and a man in his 60s from Watford in November 2024.
He had fallen ill suffering gastric illness after a trip to Cape Verde. The families of all six people are making personal injury claims for damages against Tui. Tui provides many package holidays to the island country.
Jatinder Paul, serious injury lawyer at the firm, said: “The number of holidaymakers to Cape Verde being struck down with serious and debilitating gastric illnesses is truly staggering. Nothing brings the gravity of this situation into sharper focus than these recent deaths.
“In my experience I’m used to supporting holidaymakers who have fallen ill at resorts across the globe, but I’ve never seen repeated and continued illness outbreaks at the same resorts on such a scale over such a period of time.
“It’s almost incomprehensible that holidaymakers continue to describe the hygiene issues at these Cape Verde hotels year-after-year. Each case isn’t a statistic; it’s a human story of how lives have been turned upside down.
“Understandably, those we represent have serious concerns about hygiene standards in Cape Verde. While nothing can make up for what’s happened, we’re determined to at least help establish the answers they deserve.
“In the meantime, we call for meaningful and decisive action to get on top of the reported hygiene issues on the islands. Tour operators are responsible for ensuring the safety of those who have booked all-inclusive package holidays. Therefore, we urge them to work with the authorities to ensure the highest hygiene and safety standards are always upheld.”
Tui has been contacted for comment.
