British mother, 64, died on family holiday in Cape Verde after falling ill at five-star hotel

A British mother died on a family holiday in Cape Verde after falling ill at a five-star hotel. Elena Walsh, 64, had been staying at Riu Cabo Verde, a luxury resort on the picturesque Sal island in the south of the African country, when she became fatally unwell in August. The part-time nurse, from Kings Heath in Birmingham, had jetted out for a 12-night stay for a double celebration of her husband's 60th birthday and her son's recent engagement. But just a week into the trip, Ms Walsh began suffering with symptoms such as sickness and diarrhoea as well as heavy sweats which left her 'so weak she had to be helped into a wheelchair'. Ms Walsh was assessed in her room by a nurse on the morning of August 9, the day after she began feeling unwell, and was quickly taken by taxi to a local clinic before being transferred to hospital. However, the 64-year-old's condition rapidly deteriorated at a 'sudden and distressing' rate, and she was tragically pronounced dead at around 6.30am on August 10. Ms Walsh's death has 'absolutely broken' her family, including husband Patrick, who also fell ill on the holiday, their son, Sean, 29 and his fiancée, Gemma Kentish, 26, all of whom had been on the trip. Now, Mr Walsh, who was married to his late wife for nearly 40 years, has revealed how he and the family had grave concerns about the hygiene standards at the hotel during their trip. He said: 'I'm not sure we'll ever get over what happened to Elena, but we have so many concerns about what caused her death. 'We were really worried about the hygiene at the hotel - the food was often lukewarm, the cheese on the pizza was not melted properly and seemed undercooked. 'On one night my son mentioned that the chicken tasted funny, so he stopped eating it. 'I found at times the food in the hotel was being rushed out to be served when it hadn't been cooked properly and we noticed people standing in the pool bar all day, without leaving to go to the toilet, with the water changing colour.' The retired plant operator said he had never seen his wife 'so poorly' in all their years together as he revealed she couldn't even walk from their room to the taxi to visit the clinic. He continued: 'By the Saturday morning, she was so weak that she had to be helped into a wheelchair to be taken from our room and into a taxi to go to the nearby clinic. 'The care she received felt chaotic and we felt like we were in the dark around what was happening despite asking for updates. '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.' Mr Walsh has now instructed medical negligence lawyers to investigate the care his late wife received. Jatinder Paul, the specialist international serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing him, 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.' The law firm is representing more than 1,500 UK holidaymakers to Cape Verde who have fallen ill over the last three years, including over 200 at the Riu Cabo Verde. Mr Paul added: '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.' Mr Walsh said: '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.' An inquest into Elena's death is expected to be held at a later date. The Riu Cabo Verde has been approached for comment.