Two Australian women hospitalized after consuming cocktails at a luxury hotel in Fiji are now stable and preparing for their journey back home. The incident involved four Australian women, aged 18 to 56, who were among seven people treated at a medical facility after drinking at a bar in the Warwick Fiji resort along the Coral Coast last Saturday.
According to David Sandoe from Sydney, his daughter Tanya and granddaughter Georgia fell ill after having the cocktails, leading to Georgia experiencing a seizure. They spent Saturday night and Sunday in the hospital but have since been discharged and are in good spirits given the circumstances. Mr. Sandoe expressed the challenges of receiving such alarming news while his family was on vacation, stating it was a “worst nightmare” for him.
The pair was assisted by Australian consular staff on their way to the airport and were expected to arrive in Sydney the same evening. Mr. Sandoe noted that they were enjoying a mother-daughter getaway in Fiji, a destination the family cherishes, and had planned to stay for a week.
Additionally, Mr. Sandoe mentioned that they connected with another Australian mother-daughter pair who had similar experiences and are still receiving medical attention. Health officials from Fiji indicated that the patients experienced nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms. During a press conference, Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka described the situation as “very serious,” yet confirmed that the remaining patients were stable. While waiting for a toxicology report, he did not entirely dismiss the possibility of methanol poisoning but remained optimistic about its unlikelihood in Fiji.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring food and drink safety while traveling. Thankfully, the two women are recovering, and there is hope that the authorities will determine the cause of the illness to prevent future occurrences. It is heartening to see the resilience of families supporting each other during such unfortunate events, highlighting the strength of community even in challenging times.
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