The family of a British woman who died while enjoying a luxury holiday have claimed it was due to the 'unhygienic' hotel.
On 1 August, Elena Walsh jetted off to the five-star Riu Cabo Verde resort in Sal, Cape Verde, to celebrate her husband's 60th birthday and their son getting engaged - splurging £5,000 on the family trip.
However, what was supposed to be a luxury holiday for the family ended in tragedy as the 64-year-old mother began to feel unwell about a week into the trip, experiencing symptoms of sickness, diarrhoea and heavy sweats.
Her condition continued to deteriorate, and she was pronounced dead two days later on 10 August.
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Elena's family are now alleging that poor hygiene standards are to blame for the part-time nurse's death, with husband Patrick claiming the care his wife received was 'chaotic'.
"In the nearly 40 years we’d been together, I’d never seen Elena so poorly," the heartbroken husband recalled.
"She was so weak that she had to be helped into a wheelchair to be taken from our room and into a taxi to go to the nearby clinic."
He continued: "The care she received felt chaotic and we felt like we were in the dark around what was happening despite asking for updates.
"After hours of trying to treat her, they suddenly told us Elena’s organs were failing and there was nothing they could do for her.
"We’re absolutely devastated by Elena’s death."
Elena had been travelling with Patrick, their son Sean, 29, and his fiancée Gemma, 26, with the family claiming to have witnessed poor hygiene standards during their stay.
"We were really worried about the hygiene at the hotel – the food was often lukewarm, the cheese on the pizza was not melted properly and seemed undercooked," Patrick recalled.
"On one night, my son mentioned that the chicken tasted funny, so he stopped eating it.
"I found at times the food in the hotel was being rushed out to be served when it hadn't been cooked properly."
The family also saw they saw water in the pool change colour after people were standing by the swim-up pool bar 'all day' without going to the toilet.
Elena's family have also instructed medical negligence lawyers to investigate her case.
The family are being represented by Irwin Mitchell, with specialist international serious injury lawyer Jatinder Paul saying his firm has represented 200 British holidaymakers who've fallen ill at the Riu Cabo Verde in the last three years.
Paul stated: “Elena’s loved ones are devastated by her death and the sudden circumstances surrounding it.
"Understandably, they have a number of questions about how she contracted her illness and the care she received in Cape Verde."
He continued: "While nothing can make up for their loss, we’re determined to at least help establish the answers they deserve."
Meanwhile, Patrick said the family had been 'absolutely devastated' by his wife's death.
"I’m not sure we’ll ever get over what happened to Elena, but we have so many concerns about what caused her death," he added.
"Elena was the heart and soul of our family."
An inquest into Elena's death will take place at a later date.
LADbible Group has approached Riu Cabo Verde for comment.
Topics: UK News, World News, Travel, Health
Brenna Cooper