In a tragic incident in the Dominican Republic, a Canadian family of four faced a nightmare during their vacation at an all-inclusive resort. Only two of them returned home after a severe case of food poisoning.
April and Stephen Gougeon booked a week-long stay at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham Resort in December 2023, bringing along their sons, Oliver and Wesley. Sadly, within 24 hours of arriving, the entire family fell ill after eating at the resort’s buffet.
The Gougeons dined around 9 p.m. on December 28, and by the early morning hours, they were all violently sick. They repeatedly requested medical help, but it took hours before resort staff assisted them. The family was eventually wheeled out of their room in wheelchairs and treated at the resort clinic before being transported to a local hospital.
At the hospital, both April and Oliver faced critical health issues. Oliver, just 8 years old, suffered from breathing difficulties and tragically went into cardiac arrest. April was placed on a ventilator but also became unconscious and passed away shortly after. Both died from secondary complications related to food poisoning.
Stephen and Wesley received medical treatment and were discharged after two days. Stephen later shared the heart-wrenching moment he had to tell Wesley about the loss of his mother and brother. “It was the hardest thing I have ever done,” he said.
A coroner’s report confirmed that food poisoning was the cause of their deaths, but the specifics of the food consumed have not been disclosed. Since this devastating event, Stephen has filed a lawsuit seeking $10 million in damages, claiming inadequate medical response and poor sanitary conditions at the resort.
In his statement, he lamented the failings of the resort, emphasizing, “We called asking for help, and they did not take our call seriously.” He hopes that by holding the responsible companies accountable, future tragedies can be prevented.
The defendants in the lawsuit include Wyndham Hotel Canada II Inc., Air Transat Holidays, and the resort, among others. As the legal process unfolds, the Gougeon family seeks justice and to highlight issues surrounding safety and health in vacation settings.
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