Aussie mother, daughter flying home after Fiji resort alcohol poisoning

Two of the four Australian tourists hospitalised after suspected alcohol poisoning at the Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast have been released and are heading back to Sydney.

Georgia Sandoe-Simpson was hospitalised after suspected alcohol poisoning in Fiji.

An Australian mother and her daughter are flying home after being released from hospital following suspected alcohol poisoning at a five-star Fiji resort, which left a group of seven requiring emergency medical treatment.

The condition of two other Australians remains unclear after the group, aged between 18 and 56, and which also included an American and two foreigners who lived in Fiji, became sick after consuming a cocktail prepared at the Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast.

All were treated at a hospital in Sigatoka before being transferred to Lautoka Hospital because of the severity of their symptoms, local media has reported.

They spent the night in hospital after they initially presented with nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms.

Ill mother, daughter headed back to Sydney

David Sandoe, the father and grandfather of two of the women who became ill, said on Monday that the pair, Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, and Tanya, 49, were on their way home to Sydney.

They are due to arrive in Sydney on a flight tonight.

Mr Sandoe said he got a call at 11pm on Saturday night from his daughter saying that she had been poisoned along with Mr Sandoe’s granddaughter.

“Out of the two of them our daughter has fared better than our granddaughter. Our granddaughter seemed to be more affected. So it was very much a big worry for us.”

He said it was “too early to tell” if his family members would need further treatment when they get home.

“We do know that the good news continues. Just about an hour ago we got confirmation that they’ve received medical discharges from the hospital and that they are medically okay to travel.”

Mr Sandoe said that he did not know about the condition of the other two Australians, but confirmed that they came from NSW.

He said the experience was “a complete shock” and unlike what the family had experienced on prior trips to Fiji.

“Hopefully it’s a once off and they’ll get to the bottom of it,” he said.

A member of the other Australian family is reportedly in an induced coma.

Warwick Resort investigates suspected alcohol poisoning

The Warwick Resort told The Australian that they are “trying to get to the bottom” of the suspected poisoning and would not make further comments at this time.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokeswoman said the government was providing consular assistance to two Australian families in Fiji.

The consular assistance may include liaisons to local hospitals or with local authorities, the provision of lists with medical providers and assistance communicating with family members.

Local media has reported that Fijian Police and health inspectors were sent to investigate the suspected poisoning and to identify any other guests who may have presented with similar symptoms.

Smarttraveller.gov.au has warned Australians to “be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks in Fiji”.

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

The Fijian Ministry of Health advised people to be cautious about food and drinks consumed during the holiday season.

Fiji’s tourism minister, Viliame Gavoka, confirmed to local media that drink samples from the resort will be sent to Australia for analysis. He said that the group were served Pina Coladas at a bar in the resort.

“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 colada in one of these bars,” Mr Gavoka said.

Incident follows fatal cases in Laos

The suspected poisoning comes just weeks after six foreigners including two Melbourne teenagers died from methanol poisoning after consuming drinks at a hostel in Laos.

Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, both 19, were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in the town of Vang Vieng before they were struck with violent illness, allegedly from consuming a tainted cocktail.

Twelve people were arrested by Laos police in connection with the incident including eight staff and management of the hostel.

Lao authorities prohibited the sale and consumption of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey because of concerns that they were health risks.

Smarttraveller.gov.au warned Australians not to consume those products and said that “several foreign nationals, including Australians, have been victims in November 2024 of methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks.

“Be alert to the potential risks particularly with spirit-based drinks including cocktails.”