Australian father David Sandoe believes the cause of the illness his daughter and grandaughter were hospitalised with was suspected alcohol poisoning at the 5 star Fiji resort
A father has opened up about the “horrific experience” of his daughter and grandaughter who were among four tourists hospitalised in Fiji after suspected alcohol poisoning.
David Sandoe said the pair fell ill and were hospitalised before being cleared for discharge on Monday. According to local news outlets, the cause of the foreigners’ illness was suspected alcohol poisoning, similar to a case in Laos in November in which six tourists – including a British woman and two Australian teenagers – died after consuming tainted drinks.
Seven foreign tourists had been taken to hospital in Fiji after drinking cocktails at a resort bar, authorities said on Monday. Mr Tudravu told Sky News that no cause had been identified for his family in Fiji, adding police have ordered toxicology tests and are awaiting results.
Mr Gavoka said no other reports of similar illness were recorded at the resort or across Fiji. “The resort management has assured us that they have not engaged in practices such as substituting ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests,” he said.
The hotel, located on the picturesque Coral Coast of the largest island Vitu Levu, has operated for many years and “holds a strong reputation,” he added. “This is the only reported case of its kind that we’ve experienced in recent memory, and certainly nothing like this has been experienced this year.”
Australia’s Foreign Ministry said officials are providing consular assistance to two Australian families in Fiji. The ministry did not comment on the cause of the Australians’ illness, but its website advising tourists was updated on Monday to caution travellers about “potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks”.
A spokesperson for the resort, Savaira Molaucake, said staff were “conducting a thorough investigation” of the incident and were working closely with authorities.
Last month, six others died after drinking shots laced with methanol at a Laos hotel. British lawyer Simone White, from Kent, died after she fell ill from drinking free shots mixed with the deadly chemical, while the Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed two young women from Denmark, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald, 21, had also passed away.
The US State Department confirmed the death of a 56-year-old male US citizen in Vang Vieng. Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, also died after suffering alleged methanol poisoning while on holiday to Laos. Up to 12 other holidaymakers were still being treated in hospital.