A British mother has died after contracting a severe illness while staying at what they allege was an “unhygienic” hotel during a luxury break in Cape Verde. Elena Walsh, 64, was holidaying at the five-star Riu Cabo Verde resort in Sal to mark her husband’s 60th birthday and their son’s engagement.

However, a week into the £5,000 getaway, the part-time nurse became unwell with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea as well as profuse sweating. Just two days later she had passed away.

Devastated husband Patrick revealed the family harboured serious concerns about the hygiene standards at the hotel during their 12-night stay this August. He alleges food was frequently served tepid and had not been prepared properly, and that the treatment Elena received was disorganised in the lead-up to her death.

He also claimed guests would remain in the pool bar throughout the day without departing to use the lavatory, and he observed the water “changing colour”. Patrick, of Kings Heath, Birmingham, has now engaged medical negligence solicitors to examine the care his wife of nearly 40 years received.

Patrick, a retired plant operator, 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.

“In the nearly 40 years we’d been together, I’d never seen Elena so poorly. 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.

“We’re absolutely devastated by Elena’s death. 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. 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 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.”

Elena was on holiday with Patrick, who also fell ill, and their son, Sean, 29, along with Sean’s fiancée, Gemma Kentish, 26. They travelled to Cape Verde on August 1 and Elena began feeling unwell on the afternoon of August 8.

After her condition worsened overnight, Elena was assessed by a nurse in her room the following morning. She was taken by taxi to a local clinic before being transferred to hospital. However, her condition continued to deteriorate and she died just after 6.30am on August 10.

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.”

The law firm is representing more than 1,500 UK holidaymakers to Cape Verde who have fallen ill over the last three years. An inquest into Elena’s death is expected to be held at a later date.

The Riu Cabo Verde was approached for comment on Friday and has not yet responded.