A BRITISH mum has tragically died after falling ill on a £5,000 “trip of a lifetime” with her family.
Elena Walsh, 64, was staying at a five star resort in Cape Verde when she began feeling unwell.
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British mum Elena Walsh, 64, tragically died after falling ill on a family holiday to Cape VerdeCredit: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS
Elena Walsh was celebrating her husband’s 60th birthday and her son’s engagementCredit: SWNS
According to the tragic mother’s family, the resort was riddled with hygiene failures.
Elena was with her husband, son and future daughter-in-law to celebrate her husband’s 60th birthday and her son’s engagement.
She had travelled to Cape Verde on August 1 with husband Patrick, who also fell ill, and their son, Sean, 29 along with Sean’s fiancée, Gemma Kentish, 26.
Just seven days later, on August 8, Elena began to feel unwell, suffering sickness, diarrhoea and sweating.
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She was raced to a clinic for treatment before being rushed to a hospital when her condition worsened.
Tragically the mother passed away just two days later while still in hospital.
Elena’s husband Patrick said: “Elena was the heart and soul of our family. She was caring, compassionate, and always put others first.
“Elena was a wonderful wife, mum, and friend. She was loved by everyone who knew her.”
Heartbroken Patrick, a retired plant operator, said the family had grave concerns about the hygiene standards at the hotel during their 12 night stay.
Food was often served lukewarm and had not been cooked properly while the care Elena received was “chaotic” in the run up to her death, the grieving husband said.
He added that people would stand in the pool bar all day without leaving to go to the toilet and he noticed the water “changing colour.”
Patrick, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, has now instructed medical negligence lawyers to investigate the care his wife of nearly 40 years received.
The heartbroken husband added: “The least we feel we deserve is answers, not just for our family but if Elena did fall ill, and die, because of the hygiene conditions at the hotel, we can then help try and prevent other families from going through the same horrific ordeal we have endured.”
Jatinder Paul, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Patrick, said: “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.
“While nothing can make up for their loss we’re determined to at least help establish the answers they deserve.
“We continue to hear too many concerning reports of people falling ill at all-inclusive resorts across Cape Verde, including the Riu Cabo Verde.
“It beggars belief that so many holidaymakers fall seriously ill at this hotel year-on-year.”
An inquest into Elena’s death is expected to be held at a later date.
Patrick continued, saying: “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.
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“It has absolutely broken us as a family and one of the hardest things to try to come to terms with is the sudden and distressing way in which we lost her while we were supposed to be enjoying a family holiday, which was celebrating my 60th birthday and my son getting engaged.
“I’m not sure we’ll ever get over what happened to Elena, but we have so many concerns about what caused her death.”
Elena Walsh with her husband, Patrick, and their son, SeanCredit: SWNS
Elena was with her husband, Patrick, their son, and their son’s fiance Gemma KentishCredit: SWNS
