Pina colada poison victims return home to Sydney

Two Australians who were rushed to hospital after being poisoned by pina coladas in Fiji have returned home.

Two Australians who fell gravely ill after drinking pina coladas on a dream holiday to Fiji returned home on Monday night.

Georgia Sandoe, 19, and her mother Tanya, 49, from Sydney’s upper north shore, were seen hugging relatives after arriving at Sydney Airport.

Georgia suffered a seizure after drinking the near-deadly cocktail at the five-star Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast on Saturday.

Two other Australians were taken ill but are in a stable condition and expected to fly home as soon as they get medical clearance, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Tanya Sandoe hugs her father David Sandoe after arriving at Sydney Airport. (Sky News)

Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, arrives home after her horrifying ordeal. (Sky News)

Three other holiday-makers were also taken to hospital following the incident.

Australian authorities have taken over investigations into the poisonings with samples being sent by their counterparts in Fiji.

The Sandoes were admitted to a Fiji hospital’s critical care unit hours after enjoying pina coladas at the resort with three other tourists.

Shaken guests, who were also staying at the resort, have said that the mother and daughter “bonded” with two other Australians and an American woman.

But after they enjoyed a drink together other guests saw members of the group fall to the ground, with one woman “bleeding from the ears”.

The stricken guests were taken to hospital in nearby Sigatoka before being transferred to Lautoka Hospital on the west of the island.

Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, was taken to hospital after she consumed an allegedly contaminated cocktail at the Warwick Resort in Fiji.

“(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 or having minor fits.

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

Other witnesses said the affected guests started having fits, chills and tremors after drinking the pina coladas on Saturday afternoon.

Many other guests at the hotel consumed the same cocktail but did not fall unwell.

Carmel Marasco, from Melbourne, also stayed at the resort and said she had been “sitting there drinking the same cocktail”.

She told the ABC she was “upset” about the incident.

“I’ve been to the Warwick four times with my children and family, and it has never happened before,” she said.

Tanya’s father David Sandoe told Sky News that his granddaughter (Georgia) had suffered a “brief seizure,” while he had additional fears for his daughter, Tanya, due to a pre-existing blood disease.

He later told 9News that he thought he was “having nightmares”.

“When you receive a phone call at, well it was 11 o’clock the other night, and your daughter says her daughter and herself have been poisoned and they were in hospital, it’s quite something else,” he said.

He said he thought back to the suspected mass methanol poisoning in Southeast Asia last month, which “sends shivers down your spine”.

Two Melbourne teens – Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19 – died after drinking contaminated alcoholic drinks in Laos in November.

Tanya’s mother, Pamela Sandoe, confirmed that her daughter and granddaughter had been to Fiji “many times” in the past.

David Sandoe's daughter and granddaughter were among those hospitalised.

The remaining five guests who were hospitalised in Fiji, including two other Australians, are expected to be able to fly home.

Fiji government not ruling out methanol

The Fijian government is not ruling out methanol poisoning as the cause of the hospitalisations, NCA Newswire reports.

Fijian Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka told reporters on Monday the chance of methanol poisoning was “extreme”, but authorities wanted toxicology reports before it could be ruled out.

“It’s something that we don’t believe is possible in Fiji.”

The Fijian hospitality industry is in “shock” after the incident, Mr Gavoka added.

“We never believe this would happen. Of course, there was a case (in Laos where six tourists died), not long ago, and there is fear that it would be similar,” he said.

‘Terrifying deja vu’: Laos poisoning brings fear

Federal minister Jason Clare described the situation in Fiji as feeling like “deja vu”.

“My message for Australians travelling overseas is just be really, really careful with whatever you consume,” he said on ABC News Breakfast.

“There’s a real terrifying sense of deja vu. It’s only a month ago two young Australian women died in Laos from methanol poisoning. And then when we hear this horrific news in Fiji, I’m sure all Australians have their heart in mouth and are hoping for the best.”

Fiji’s government assures incident was ‘extremely isolated’

Fiji’s Tourism Minister Mr Gavoka said no other incidents had been reported elsewhere at the resort or in Fiji.

He said Warwick Resort denied their drinks are tampered with and that they were co-operating with authorities.

“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 added.

Warwick Resort told news.com.au it was aware of the suspected alcohol poisoning and while it did not have further details, it vowed to provide updates when available.

“Please rest assured that we are taking this matter very seriously and are currently conducting a thorough investigation,” sales and marketing manager Savaira Molaucake said.

“We are also awaiting the health authorities test result report to gather all necessary information.

“At this moment, we do not have conclusive details, but we are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our guests.”

Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast is a five-star resort. Picture: Facebook / Warwick Fiji

Australians urged not to cancel holidays

Australian Travel Industry Association CEO Dean Long told news.com.au that Fiji was a “very, very safe destination” and Australians could be assured the Fijian government would “throw every resource at this,” given tourism was of such critical importance to the country.

Almost 406,000 Australians travelled to Fiji in the 12 months to October.

Mr Long urged people not to cancel any trips there as it would hurt the local Fijian population that want to welcome Aussie families over summer.

“If people are very nervous about it, they can change the way they consume alcohol,” he said, suggesting it is best to drink pre-mixed sealed drinks that you can open yourself.

The Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast has 248 hotel rooms. Picture: Alamy

‘How can this happen?’: 5-star detail scares travellers

Following the incident, the Australian government’s official travel advice website, Smartraveller, updated its advice for Fiji.

“Be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks,” it said.

“Get urgent medical help if you suspect drink spiking.”

Among the official government advice to avoid drink spiking overseas is to not leave drinks unattended, pay attention when your drinks are being mixed, be especially careful drinking cocktails and drinks made with spirits, and drink only at reputable licensed premises – such as five-star hotels.

Foreigners who have recently or are currently staying at the resort said they had drank alcohol there without any issue.

Drink spiking can happen anywhere but methanol poisoning is a risk in popular destinations in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe, where alcohol production is less regulated, Smartraveller warns.

The luxury resort has five restaurants and six bars. The Wicked Walu seafood restaurant is on its own island. Picture: Alamy

Inside the five-star resort

Warwick Hotels & Resorts is a global company with more than 40 hotels across the world, including in Montreal, New York City, London, Paris, Nice, The Bahamas, Doha, Beijing and Port Vila.

The Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast is a five-star resort with two swimming pools with pool bars, a spa, gym, tennis courts and squash courts, five restaurants, and kids club. The resort hosts events, including conferences and weddings.

There are 248 hotel rooms. Guests can book standard garden view and ocean view rooms, which can accommodate two adults and two children under 12 years old, or adults-only deluxe rooms.

There are ten luxury suites, where up to two adults and two children under 12 can stay with a separate bedroom and lounge room, and private balcony.