Top secret private jet ambulance carrying Aussie mum poisoned at luxury Fiji resort touches down on the Gold Coast
An air ambulance carrying the last Australian hospitalized for suspected mass alcohol poisoning in Fiji has returned home.
An entourage of cars transported the 49-year-old mother to the chartered flight at Nadi International Airport on Wednesday afternoon after a four-day stay in the intensive care unit of Lautoka Hospital.
She and three other Australian tourists fell ill on Saturday after drinking pina coladas served at the five-star Warwick Resort, on Fiji’s Coral Coast.
The air ambulance landed on the Gold Coast shortly after 7.30pm local time on Wednesday evening after a three-and-a-half hour flight.
As she boarded the plane, the 49-year-old, still wearing her hospital bandage, was helped down the stairs by several paramedics before being strapped into a waiting stretcher and into the back of an ambulance.
She was accompanied on the flight by an Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official and her 18-year-old daughter, who was later seen checking her phone at the airport.
The teenager, who was also among the seven guests who fell ill, was released from hospital two days earlier.
Shortly after the air ambulance left Fiji, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka stated that the six guests from Warwick were not affected by methanol poisoning as initially speculated.
The last Australian to be hospitalized in Fiji for suspected mass alcohol poisoning has landed safely in Australia
The 49-year-old woman flew three and a half hours from Fiji to the Gold Coast on Wednesday night
The Australian mother was accompanied on the flight by her 18-year-old daughter and a DFAT officer
The woman and her daughter were the last of four Australians to return home after a hospital stay
“I can confirm that no illegal substances or methanol were found in the ingredients or beverage samples,” Mr Gavoka said.
“All affected tourists and locals have now been discharged from medical care and fully recovered. This is a significant relief.
‘No tourist wants to end their holiday sick and we are sorry that their holiday ends this way.’
While no alternative reason for the tourists’ illness was revealed, the Deputy Prime Minister indirectly shared a conspiracy theory that the bad press about the incident was fueled by a competing tourist destination.
“I would like to assure that this incident occurred in one hotel. There has been no reason to link this incident to any other incidents,” Gavoka said at a news conference.
“In the meantime, I want to tell everyone that it is safe to come to Fiji. We also need to find out who has been spreading that negative press about Fiji as a destination.
‘Are they competitors for our tourism?’
Fiji Police will continue to investigate the cause of the mass poisoning but have yet to reveal when the findings will be made public.
The woman spent four days in intensive care before being released for the flight home
The woman’s daughter (pictured), who was also among those sick, had her phone checked after arriving on the Gold Coast on Wednesday evening
The Australian mother was assisted by medical staff from the air ambulance
The mother landed on the Gold Coast, on the Queensland-New South Wales border, on Wednesday evening
Shortly after the woman’s air ambulance left Fiji, the country’s deputy prime minister suggested that the bad press the island was receiving over the incident was fueled by a competing tourist destination.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation regards the recent incident as a learning experience,” Mr Gavoka said.
“We will continue to work with our marketing department, Tourism Fiji, Fiji Hotels and Tourism Association, Fiji Police Force to ensure Fiji remains a safe destination for tourists.”
Daily Mail Australia announced this earlier a friend of one of the victims claimed she was asked by Warwick staff sign a compensation form and paid back $160.
Meanwhile, Warwick Resort management insists the property is safe for guests.
Bottles of Bounty Rum, the main ingredient in the Pina Coladas served, have been sent for testing.
“Our batch has not expired,” said human resources manager Nitin Goundar.
‘We will go through the CCTV footage.’
The resort released a statement earlier on Tuesday saying it was “deeply concerned” by media reports surrounding the mass poisoning.
The company, which has been in business for almost 40 years, described the incident as an ‘unprecedented event’.
‘We take the safety of our guests very seriously. We are currently working with authorities to determine the cause of this unfortunate incident,” the resort said.
‘We would like to reassure all our visitors that we maintain the highest standards of food and drink safety.
“We are committed to the health and safety of our guests and will be with our guests every step of the way as we investigate this unfortunate incident.”
The woman was helped up and down the plane’s stairs on either side of her journey on Wednesday
Shortly after the air ambulance left Fiji, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka stated that the seven Warwick guests had not been affected by methanol poisoning.
Ambulances and stretches took the woman to the steps of the air ambulance as she left Fiji and landed in Australia
The 49-year-old mother was taken by an entourage of cars to the charter flight in Nadi, Fiji
The suspected poisoning prompted DFAT to issue a warning about Fiji’s drinking spike.
“Be alert to the potential risks associated with binge drinking and methanol poisoning from consuming alcoholic beverages,” reads an update on Smartraveller.
‘Don’t leave food and drinks unattended and pay attention when your drinks are mixed.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Warwick Resort for comment.