British tourist dies in hotel in Cape Verde after falling seriously ill during vacation
A tourist from the UK, Elena Walsh, 64, died in August after suddenly falling ill while on vacation in Cape Verde. Her family complained of poor hygiene conditions in the hotel where she was staying and questioned the medical care provided. The British and Cape Verdean authorities are following the case, which is under investigation.
A British citizen has died in Cape Verde after contracting a serious illness while on vacation at a hotel, according to reports in the British press.
The victim, identified as Elena Walsh, 64, was traveling with her husband, Patrick Walsh, and their son, Sean, to celebrate his partner's 60th birthday and their son's recent engagement. The couple, from Birmingham, had arrived in the country on August 1 for a vacation worth around 5,000 pounds sterling.
According to her husband, Elena began to feel unwell about a week after her arrival, showing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and intense sweating. Despite receiving care at a local clinic and later at a hospital, she died on the morning of August 10th.
Patrick Walsh reported to the British press that he had serious concerns about the hotel's hygiene conditions, claiming that "the food was often served lukewarm, undercooked" and that he observed worrying behavior by the pool, where "some people would stay all day without leaving to go to the bathroom and the water would change color".
Her husband, who also fell ill during his stay, said he felt "devastated" by the loss and said the family would be taking legal action for alleged medical negligence and lack of hygiene at the establishment. "The least we deserve is answers. If Elena died because of the hotel's conditions, other families need to be protected," he said.
British lawyer Jatinder Paul, from law firm Irwin Mitchell, who is representing the family, confirmed that the case is being investigated and that a medico-legal inquiry will be carried out in the UK.
So far, the Cape Verdean authorities have not issued any official statement on the case, nor has the name of the hotel been released. The tourist's death once again raises questions about the standards of food safety and medical care in some of the archipelago's tourist facilities, at a time when the country is trying to reinforce its image as a safe, quality destination.
