Elena Walsh (left) is among four Brits who died after suffering stomach bugs in Cape Verde (Image: Family handout via Irwin Mitchell/PA Wire)
Four Brits have died within four months after being struck down with stomach bugs while holidaying in Cape Verde, lawyers representing their families have said. Elena Walsh, 64, from Birmingham, Mark Ashley, 55, of Bedfordshire, Karen Pooley, 64, from Gloucestershire, and a 56-year-old man all died last year after contracting severe gastric illnesses while on the islands off the coast of Africa.
They are four of six Britons who have died after holidays there since January 2023, with law firm Irwin Mitchell saying investigations into the deaths are “ongoing”. Mr Ashley’s wife Emma, 55, said her family are in “complete shock” over his death. She said: “We went to Cape Verde expecting a relaxing break, but Mark became violently ill and never recovered.”
READ MORE: Horror as pregnant SWAT commando bludgeoned to death with a dumbbell
READ MORE: Police launch probe into double death as bodies found 150 miles apart
Three days into their holiday in October, forklift truck driver Mr Ashley fell ill with symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and extreme lethargy, according to Irwin Mitchell.
The firm said it is representing the families of the six people who have died and more than 1,500 people who have fallen ill after visits to the country.
Mr Ashley’s wife, an early years assistant manager, said they booked a trip costing over £3,000 with Tui, adding that she reported her husband’s illness on its app on October 9 last year.
She said both she and her husband, who were married for 26 years, stayed at the five-star Riu Palace Santa Maria resort in Sal. The 55-year-old raised concerns over the hygiene standards at the hotel.
On their return to the UK, father-of-two Mr Ashley’s symptoms continued for some time, according to his wife.
After collapsing at the family home in Houghton Regis, Mr Ashley, who had diabetes which was controlled through medication, was taken to hospital on November 12 but was pronounced dead minutes later.
Mark Ashley (back row, left) became violently ill and never recovered (Image: Family handout via Irwin Mitchell/PA Wire)
Irwin Mitchell said his death has been referred to the coroner and investigations are continuing.
Part-time nurse and mother-of-one Ms Walsh died in August last year after falling ill while staying at the Riu Cabo Verde resort on the same 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 costing £3,000. She booked through Tui, according to the law firm.
The retired mother-of-two became sick on October 11 with gastric symptoms including diarrhoea. In the early hours of the next day she slipped on water leaking from a fridge while going to the bathroom.
She was transferred to a local clinic and over the next four days Ms Pooley continued to experience diarrhoea and vomiting, along with severe pain from her fractured femur.
The 64-year-old was airlifted to Tenerife for urgent care on October 16 and died in the early hours of the next day, lawyers said.
Karen Pooley fell ill with gastric symptoms (Image: Family handout via Irwin Mitchell/PA Wire)
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 said his wife appeared to be in “significant distress” when the family video-called her from home. He claimed communication from the clinic and their holiday provider was poor.
Ms Pooley’s grieving husband said: “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 said Ms Pooley’s initial death certificate, issued by the Cape Verde authorities, said she died of multi-organ failure, sepsis, cardio-respiratory arrest and a broken left leg.
The other two Britons who have died since 2023 are Jane Pressley, 62, of Gainsborough, who died in January 2023 after falling ill while holidaying at Riu Palace Hotel in Santa Maria, Sal, the previous November, and a man in his 60s from Watford.
The families of all six people who died are making personal injury claims for damages against Tui (Image: Getty)
He died in November 2024 after suffering gastric illness following a trip to Cape Verde, according to Irwin Mitchell.
Families of all six people are making personal injury claims for damages against Tui, the provider of 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.”
Mr Paul said those represented by the law firm have serious concerns about hygiene standards in Cape Verde, adding: “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.