Georgia Sandoe, 19, and her mother Tanya, 49, have returned to Sydney after Georgia suffered a seizure after imbibing at the five-star resort on Fiji’s popular Coral Coast.
Australian authorities have reportedly taken over investigations into the poisonings that sent seven people to hospital, studying samples sent from Fiji to ascertain what caused the “nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms”.
Some who drank the pina coladas suffered no ill effects. Photo / 123RF
The Sandoes reportedly “bonded” with two other Australians and an American woman at the resort, but soon after they drank pina coladas with their new friends, other guests witnessed some drop to the floor, with one “bleeding from the ears” news.com.au reported.
Others drinking the same cocktail suffered no ill effects.
Georgia grandfather David Sandoe told 9News he thought he was “having nightmares” when he received a call late at night from Fiji, and said he was reminded of the recent methanol deaths in Laos, which “sends shivers down your spine”.
Drinks normally ‘pretty harmless’
Fiji’s health ministry and police force were investigating the cause, Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka said, adding that results from “critical” toxicology tests normally take three or four days.
“Everyone is in a state of disbelief that this has happened,” he said.
Asked whether the illness might be related to methanol poisoning, Gavoka said that was “something that we don’t believe is possible in Fiji”.
While declining to speculate about the cause, he said it was a “very isolated incident”.
Fijian tourism, which attracts close to a million people each year, was “typically very safe”, he said.
Four people in critical condition were in Lautoka Hospital (pictured), due to the seriousness of their conditions. Photo /Fiji MOH
The minister said he did not believe it was the result of any deliberate action.
The hotel bar involved was “very busy” on the evening, he added, but only seven people were sickened by the pina coladas, which were normally “pretty harmless”.
A spokesperson for the Warwick Fiji hotel said it was conducting an investigation and waiting for test results from the health authorities.
“At this moment, we do not have conclusive details, but we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our guests,” the spokesperson said.
Australia’s foreign ministry said it was providing consular assistance to two families but declined further comment, citing “privacy obligations”.
In a separate incident in Laos last month, two Danish citizens, an American, a Briton and two Australians died of suspected methanol poisoning after what local media said was a night out in the town of Vang Vieng.
Kiwis share stories of Fiji sickness
Kiwis have come forward with stories of severe illness during stays at Warwick Resort in Fiji and a potential methanol poisoning at a nearby resort after the news of alcohol poisoning.
Several Kiwis have claimed they experienced severe illness at the five-star resort, while another shared details of what she suspects was methanol poisoning at a nearby hotel.
Sheryn Thornton heard the news of the alcohol poisoning, and recalled falling severely ill after a seven-night stay at the hotel in October.
“Just as soon as I saw Warwick I thought, ‘Oh, God’,” she said, adding she visited with her partner and had a cocktail each day of the trip. Instead of alcohol poisoning, Thornton later discovered she had contracted E. coli.
“We flew back home on the Saturday and I started to get sick on the Sunday,” she said. After experiencing “severe diarrhoea”, she went to the doctor for testing, which came back positive for E. coli.
“It was very severe for 10 days,” she said, adding that they never confirmed what caused it but assumed it was contaminated water. Thornton said she would never return to Warwick Fiji and was put off visiting Fiji again.
Warwick Fiji told the Herald it was “aware of the recent news regarding suspected alcohol poisoning” and was taking the matter seriously. It is yet to respond to allegations from Kiwis about falling ill at the resort.
