First pictures as Fiji drink-spiking victims arrive back in Sydney

A mother and her 19-year-old daughter arrived home in Sydney after surviving a terrifying cocktail poisoning ordeal in Fiji. Australian authorities have now taken over the investigation into the almost deadly ingredients of their pina coladas.

A mother and daughter arrived home in Sydney on Monday night after surviving a terrifying cocktail poisoning ordeal in Fiji, as Australian authorities took over the investigation into the almost deadly ingredients of their pina coladas.

Tanya Sandoe and her 19-year-old daughter, Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, were among seven holiday-makers who collapsed and were rushed to hospital suffering from seizures after consuming the drinks at the five-star Warwick Resort at the weekend.

The drink spiking victims were greeted by David Sandoe before getting into the car. Picture: Sky News

Mr Sandoe arriving at the home of his daughter and granddaughter on Monday. Picture: Chris Huang / Matrix

Two other NSW tourists who were among the drink-spiking victims are in a stable condition and expected to fly home as soon as they are given medical clearance.

Ms Sandoe and Ms Sandoe-Simpson hugged relatives as they walked from Sydney Airport after their special mother-daughter pre-Christmas holiday turned to a nightmare.

Fijian authorities suspect methanol poisoning was the cause of the sickness, but they have sent samples of the pina coladas to experts in Australia for a definitive finding.

Nineteen-year-old Georgia Sandoe-Simpson was one of the victims.

The Sandoes were enjoying a few drinks by the pool on Saturday when they suddenly became unwell.

Within hours, the pair was admitted to a hospital’s critical care unit.

Alcohol poisoning has been a major discussion point in recent months following the deaths of Melbourne teen travellers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles in Laos in November.

Ms Sandoe’s father, David Sandoe, told The Daily Telegraph he received a call from his daughter about 11pm that night saying she and her daughter were in a local hospital with suspected poisoning.

The mother and daughter arrived in Sydney on Monday night. Picture: Sky News

“We got the shock of our lives … with everything that’s gone on recently, you think the worst,” Mr Sandoe said.

Guests at the five-star resort said Ms Sandoe and Ms Sandoe-Simpson were having a few drinks together when they “bonded” with another two Australians and an American woman.

The Warwick resort and spa, Coral Coast, Fiji costs $500 a night to stay at.

Witnesses told of seeing members of the group collapse to the ground within hours of consuming the popular pina colada drink, with one woman left bleeding “from her ears”.

Seven patients were rushed to a clinic and then hospital in Sigatoka some 40 minutes away, before being transferred to the larger Lautoka Hospital on the west of the island.

“(The victims) were at the pool with us at that time and they all ordered the same drink, this was around 1pm Saturday,” the witness said.

“My mate started having seizures by 5pm and we rushed her to the Sigatoka Clinic … they were all passed out of having minor fits.”

“(She) was in a critical condition … she is finally stable now today.”

Ms Sandoe and Ms Sandoe-Simpson, from Sydney’s upper north shore, also spent a night in Lautoka Hospital being treated for symptoms including nausea, headaches and dizziness.

“It’s certainly been a worrying time,” Mr Sandoe said.

Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka vowed to get to the bottom of the incident and said samples from the suspect drinks had been sent to Australia for analysis.

“The whole case is quite mystifying, but we are doing everything we can in terms of the health ministry and the police to really determine what happened on that evening when these people were served with pina coladas in one of these bars,” Mr Gavoka said.

“(We) want to acknowledge the serious health incident that occurred at a resort on the Coral Coast, where seven guests presented with illness after consuming a cocktail at one of the resort’s bars.

“We are glad to hear that they are stable and hope their conditions continue to improve.”

Mr Garvoka claimed the hotel’s staffers had told his government they had not tinkered with the quality of any drinks.

“The resort management has assured us that they have not engaged in practices such as substituting ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests,” he said.

A resort spokesperson later said there were “no conclusive details” about the incident.

“Please rest assured that we are taking this matter very seriously and are currently conducting a thorough investigation,” they said.