According to a report in the English media, in an unexpected turn of events, Sonny Flemming, a 12-year-old English boy, returned home from his vacation at the Riu Funana Hotel in Cape Verde covered in bedbug bites and facing health problems. What was supposed to be a week of rest turned into a series of surprising and unpleasant events.
Sonny's mother, Natalie Hind, described the hotel stay as "the worst experience of our lives." The family, which included Natalie's partner Nathan Smyth, faced problems from the second day of their stay, with everyone falling seriously ill. Natalie and Nathan also suffered from severe stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhea.
Natalie reported that although they changed rooms three times after complaints, each room was worse than the last. "We were told to sit down when we complained that our son had a shellfish allergy and that the food was being prepared in the same pan as other dishes," said Natalie.
The family returned to Bradford where they sought medical help. Two months after the holidays, they are still dealing with health issues and awaiting test results. Natalie mentioned that her doctor suggested that joint pain could be indicative of a persistent stomach infection.
What makes this case even more shocking is the fact that other guests also reported similar experiences. “Our stay was a week-long nightmare and we spoke to many others who had similar stories,” commented Natalie. She mentioned that online groups have also reported similar experiences.
The family now intends to take legal action against tour operator TUI, which they say failed to adequately respond to their concerns. Lawyer Jatinder Paul, of Irwin Mitchell, said: "This family's report is concerning and reflects many of the previous reports we have received of people falling ill at this resort in recent years."
Although Cape Verde is known for its quality hotels, this incident highlights that not all establishments maintain these standards. Sonny's family hopes that by sharing their story, other travelers will be alerted and that steps will be taken to ensure other families do not experience the same situation.
