A Sydney teenager and her mother are flying back to Australia after they were among six tourists hospitalised in a suspected mass alcohol poisoning in Fiji.
Mother Tanya Sandoe, 46, and her daughter Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, from Sydney’s upper north shore were rushed to hospital after drinking cocktails by the pool at Warwick Fiji resort in the south of Fiji’s main island.
The six were taken to nearby Sigatoka Hospital with nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms with one victim’s friend telling Daily Mail Australia that she was ‘foaming at the mouth’ and suffering seizures while another Australian woman was bleeding from her ears.
Another Australian mother and daughter pair, aged 49 and 18, were transferred to in Lautoka Hospital, north of Nadi, in a critical condition but are now said to be stable.
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said initial reports of seven being hospitalised were incorrect and that figure had now been revised down to six.
He said that four of those six would be released from hospital on Monday, which he said was a sign that it was ‘not as serious as we expected’.
A US national and a foreign national based in Fiji were among those discharged from hospital on Monday after treatment for poisoning.
Relieved grandmother Pamela Sandoe told Daily Mail Australia her daughter Tanya and granddaughter Georgia were now flying to Sydney after they were also released.
‘They have both been discharged and are on their way home,’ she said. ‘We are very thankful they seem to be doing okay. It’s such a relief.
Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, (pictured) and her mother Tanya are flying home
Mother Tanya Sandoe was on holiday at the Fiji resort when they were suddenly taken ill after drinking cocktails at Warwick Resort
‘From what we know they are recovering as well as can be expected and we will be picking them up this afternoon. We will be looking after them here.’
She said other guests affected had been at the resort for a wedding but her family were there simply on vacation.
‘They were not at the wedding,’ she said. ‘They were just there to have a relaxing holiday together after a big year.
‘It was just the two of them traveling together.’
Georgia’s grandfather David Sandoe said he had received a terrifying late night call telling him his family had been rushed to hospital.
‘It’s very difficult to take a call at 11pm and your daughter and granddaughter are away and your daughter says that they’ve been poisoned and they’re in hospital,’ he said.
‘It’s your worst nightmare.’
He revealed granddaughter Georgia had suffered a seizure after drinking the cocktail and was the more ill of the pair.
His daughter also had a pre-existing medical condition which had also been affected by the suspected poisoning.
‘It was the mother and daughter ideal break, and they enjoy one another’s company,’ he told ABC News
‘We as a family, love Fiji, so that was a logical place to go, and they were enjoying themselves.’
Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, from Sydney’s upper north shore was rushed to hospital after drinking cocktails by the pool
The pair were released from hospital on Monday morning and are now flying back to Australia
Fiji health secretary Dr Jemesa Tudravu said the toxicology tests were being conducted by investigators but they had yet to identify the cause.
‘I don’t have the cause of the incident yet, but our team is currently investigating,’ he said.
‘The toxicology is currently being done by the police, and they’ll release their own investigation results.
‘At the moment, all the patients are currently admitted and under investigation, we know from yesterday there were two who were serious compared to others.’
Fiji’s Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka insisted the suspected poisoning was an isolated incident and localised to one bar at one resort which was being thoroughly investigated.
‘While we understand the concern, we want to emphasise that the tourism experience in Fiji is typically very safe,’ he said.
‘We have acted immediately to try to discover the cause of what made these guests at this resort fall ill.’
It was the only reported case in recent memory, Mr Gavoka said.
Mr Gavoka also revealed they had spoken to the resort’s management who are ‘fully cooperating with authorities’.
‘The management is obviously distressed and concerned for the welfare of their guests,’ he added.
They also assured investigators they do not ‘substitute ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests’.
Warwick Fiji said it was aware of the news and was waiting for health authorities test results ‘to gather all necessary information’ about the incident at its hotel.
‘Please rest assured that we are taking this matter very seriously and are currently conducting a thorough investigation,’ it told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.
‘We do not have conclusive details but we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our guests.’
Australia has revised its travel advice for Fiji, warning travellers to ‘be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks’.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
