The boy returned from his holiday full of bites thanks to the “dirty” hotel.

This photo shows a 12-year-old boy covered in bedbug bites after falling ill in a ‘dirty hotel’. Sonny Flemming was left scarred with bites after he was struck down by a stomach bug just two days after a week’s holiday in Cape Verde.

He was given an EpiPen and antihistamines due to the severity of the reaction to the bites suffered while on vacation at the five-star Riu Funana hotel. Mum Natalie Hind, who also fell ill with partner Nathan Smyth during the trip, said: “Our stay at this hotel was the worst experience of our lives.”

Natalie, 42, and Nathan, 38, headed to the luxury resort with Natalie’s son Sonny for a week in May. But all three ended badly with Nathan, a freelance welder, falling ill with symptoms three days into their holiday.

Natalie became ill with gastric symptoms including stomach cramps, sickness and diarrhoea, then experienced significant itching from bed bug bites. The couple, from Bradford, saw their GP when they returned home and are still unwell two months on holiday and awaiting test results.

Natalia’s doctor said that her illness continued and the joint pain could be a sign of the ongoing stomach infection. They complained to hotel staff and the representative during their stay and moved rooms three times – but each time was worse than the last, they said.

They said food was often served uncovered, dirty utensils were frequently used, and there were stray cats and cockroaches around the hotel. Natalie, a service co-ordinator for a mental health charity, said: “We told the restaurant Sonny had a shellfish allergy and when he went to get a chicken dish we were shocked to find that seafood was cooked in the same pan as other dishes.

“We pointed this out and were told to sit down. When they complained to reception they said they didn’t understand us. Our room was awful and we all ate a few on the first night. It wasn’t until later that a nurse it was pointed out that they were bed bug bites.

“She changed and so did we. We showed the rep these disgusting bites and she moved us. We opened the door to a room full of stains with dirty towels and plates everywhere and a sanitary pad on the floor.”

Stunned, Natalie said she took photos and showed them to the front desk, who moved them again. At first they thought the third room looked clean, but there seemed to be noises coming from the bathroom.

She says that upon entering, the ceiling was crawling with cockroaches. The couple now plan to take legal action against the tour operator and have instructed lawyers to investigate.

It comes after hundreds of tourists launched legal action after falling ill at the same hotel. Hundreds more trained lawyers after falling ill at other hotels in Cape Verde in 2022, including more than 300 tourists who fell ill at the Riu Palace Santa Maria.

Natalie added: “Our stay was a horror story for a week and I spoke to many others who had similar stories to tell. I have seen so many groups of people online saying they had a similar experience. I shudder to think that other families could go there, completely unaware.”

Specialist international personal injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are now investigating the family’s illness. Lawyer Jatinder Paul said: “Natalie and Nathan’s account of this holiday in Cape Verde is deeply concerning and echoes a number of previous reports we have received from those affected by illness at this resort over the past few years.

“We have supported hundreds of customers who have stayed at this hotel over the past few years and this latest report indicates that tourists continue to fall ill. The large number of guests coming from this hotel and other hotels in Cape Verde is indeed a cause for concern. and the numbers look set to rise again if this disease trend continues.

“The family, along with our other clients, have many questions about how they got so sick and why it appears that little action has been taken following so many people falling ill previously. Natalie remains ill and they are worried that if nothing is done, others will suffer as they have.”

News agency SWNS has approached the holiday company for comment.