A British man died on holiday in Cape Verde in July 2024 after falling ill with severe gastrointestinal symptoms, and his widow was forced to bury him in an unmarked grave, highlighting ongoing concerns about health and safety at some resorts in the African island nation.

Retired forklift driver Colin Timson, 74, from Heighington near Lincoln, was staying at the Riu Funana hotel on the island of Sal with his wife Jacqueline when he fell ill with vomiting and diarrhea. The following morning, Jacqueline Timson found her husband collapsed and he was taken to hospital but died that same evening. Cape Verde authorities attributed his death to acute gastroenteritis complicated by digestive bleeding, dehydration, severe anemia, and septic shock. Mrs. Timson, who also experienced stomach cramps during their stay, said she was told there was no option for cremation in Cape Verde and, believing her travel insurance would not cover repatriation costs, had to arrange a burial in an unmarked grave.

Mrs. Timson described the hotel as failing to meet expected standards, noting undercooked food, poor hygiene including cockroach infestations in pool-area toilets, and discolored pool water. She said medical staff reassured her the hospital would provide care, but she was not informed of her husband's death until she visited the hospital the next day.

This tragic case forms part of a broader pattern involving British tourists falling ill during all-inclusive holidays in Cape Verde. A law firm representing affected travelers reported that over 2,500 people who visited the islands since 2022 have reported contracting illnesses such as salmonella, E.coli, and shigella. The firm is also representing families of at least ten Britons who died while on TUI package holidays in Cape Verde, citing concerns over food safety and medical response at resorts.

Among the other fatalities is Laurence Brownlie, 67, a retired IT engineer from West Lothian, who died in June 2024 at the Melia Llana Beach Resort after collapsing at dinner. His family reported flies in the food and the absence of a defibrillator on site. Other British nationals who have died in similar circumstances include nurse Elena Walsh from Birmingham, Jane Pressley from Gainsborough, Karen Pooley from Lydney, and Mark Ashley from Houghton Regis.

Under UK law, package holiday providers are responsible for the quality and safety of all services offered, including food, hygiene, and accommodation, even when these are delivered abroad. TUI, which organized the holidays, expressed condolences to the families but stated their records did not show reports of diarrhea or vomiting at the relevant times. The company declined further comment due to ongoing legal matters.

The situation has raised questions about resort hygiene standards and the adequacy of medical preparedness in Cape Verde, prompting ongoing legal actions and calls for better protections for travelers.