Australians feared to be among seven tourists poisoned, rushed to hospital in Fiji
Several Australians are feared to be among seven people rushed to hospital in Fiji with suspected alcohol poisoning as the federal government issued a warning about drink spiking in the popular Pacific holiday location.
The Fiji Times reported on Sunday night that seven guests from Warwick Resort on Fiji’s Coral Coast were taken to Sigatoka Hospital on Saturday night after drinking cocktails at an event.
The Warwick Resort, Fiji.Credit: Facebook
A statement from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to The Fiji Times confirmed seven guests were taken to hospital and that health inspectors were mobilised and a police investigation was in progress.
“The affected patients’ age ranges from 18 to 56 years, and two patients have been transferred to Lautoka Hospital due to the severity of their condition,” the ministry statement read.
The ministry statement said the guests were taken to hospital with nausea, vomiting and neurological symptoms after consuming a cocktail drink prepared at a bar at the resort.
“The ministry has also mobilised a team of health inspectors to assist the health team at Sigatoka Hospital in the detailed investigation of the event at the resort, as well as identify other guests who may also be affected with similar symptoms from consuming the same drink.”
The ministry did not reveal the nationalities of the seven people but the Fiji Times reported, based on numbers provided to it by the government, that four of them were Australians, one was American and two were expatriate residents of Fiji from an unnamed country.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement it was helping two families in Fiji.
