A Sydney teenager and her mother are flying back to Sydney after being among seven tourists hospitalized in Fiji for suspected mass alcohol poisoning.
The father and grandfather of two of the Australians, David Sandoe, said his daughter Tanya and her daughter Georgia had been released from hospital and confirmed they were medically fit to travel.
“Like everyone else, when this news broke, we were all thinking back to what happened recently in Asia, which sends shivers down your spine, so we are so grateful and very happy,” he told the media on Monday.
It was a horrific experience, he said, describing a late-night phone call from his daughter telling him she had been taken to hospital as “a completely different thing.”
Georgia suffered a seizure in her late teens after drinking a cocktail, he said.
She had a pre-existing condition that affected her immune system, which was a major problem, Mr Sandoe said, but fears were quelled when he spoke to doctors in Fiji.
It was an isolated incident, located at a resort bar, which was being thoroughly investigated, Fiji Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka said, reassuring travelers of their safety.
It was the only reported case in recent history, Gavoka said.
Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, (pictured) and her mother Tanya fly home
“While we understand the concerns, we would like to emphasize that the tourism experience in Fiji is generally very safe and we have taken immediate action to try to determine the cause that caused these guests at this resort to become ill.”
The resort’s management had assured authorities that they had not replaced any ingredients or changed the quality of the drinks, he said.
Warwick Fiji said it was aware of the news and was awaiting test results from health authorities “to gather all necessary information” about the incident at the hotel.
“Rest assured that we are taking this matter very seriously and are currently conducting a thorough investigation,” the company told Daily Mail Australia in a statement.
“We don’t have conclusive details, but we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our guests.”
Australia has revised its travel advice for Fiji, warning travelers to be “alert to the potential risks surrounding liquor excess and methanol poisoning from consuming alcoholic beverages.”
Tanya Sandoe is pictured next to her daughter