Daughter of West Lothian man who died on Cape Verde holiday says family has ‘unanswered questions’
Answers demanded after West Lothian man dies at Cape Verde resort
The family of a West Lothian man who died suddenly during a luxury holiday to Cape Verde are demanding answers as part of a major legal action against tour operator Tui.
Retired IT engineer Laurence Brownlie, 67, from West Calder, collapsed and died in front of his wife Glenna, 66, at the five-star Meliá Llana Beach Resort and Spa in June 2024.
His death is one of 10 fatalities currently being investigated by law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is representing more than 2,500 holidaymakers who have suffered severe gastric illnesses at resorts in the West African country since the summer of 2022.
While a death certificate stated Mr Brownlie died of a suspected heart attack three days after first becoming unwell, his family have raised serious concerns about conditions at the resort, citing reports of flies in food and the absence of a defibrillator.
His daughter Erin, 34, described the ordeal of her father dying "so far from home" as something "no family should ever have to go through".
She said: “It remains difficult not to think how dad should have been coming home with mum at the end of their holiday. Instead, our family was left devastated and trying to come to terms with losing him so suddenly in such traumatic circumstances.
“I can’t imagine how harrowing it must have been for my mum seeing her soulmate pass away in front of her."
She added: “We’ll forever be grateful to those in the hotel who tried to help dad but what happened has left us with so many unanswered questions.
“As well as grieving for dad, we had to deal with the shock of flying out to be with mum, not being able to see him, and then facing the journey of bringing him back to Scotland.”
The planned legal action against Tui also includes the family of retired forklift driver Colin Timson, 74, from near Lincoln.
Mr Timson died in July 2024 from septic shock caused by acute gastroenteritis following a stay at the Riu Funana resort. His widow, Jacqueline, said she was forced to bury her husband in an unmarked grave on the island.
Jatinder Paul, a serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “It’s staggering that we continue to be contacted by hundreds more people reporting how their holidays have been ruined by serious illness.
“Nothing brings the impact of these incidents into sharper focus than the deaths of British holidaymakers. The first-hand accounts from those who have lost loved ones are not only incredibly stark but harrowing."
Holidaymakers represented by the firm have reported contracting severe illnesses including salmonella, E.coli, and shigella.
A spokesperson for Tui said its local representatives offered support and assistance in the resort at the time of the incidents.
The spokesperson added: “Neither family raised any complaint or concern with Tui, either during their holiday or after returning home, and Tui received no communication about either case until today, when we were contacted by media.
"As this is now a legal matter, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further.”
A spokesperson for RIU Hotels & Resorts expressed deep regret over the loss of life but said it could not comment further due to the legal proceedings. Meliá Hotels & Resorts has been approached for comment.