A woman who was rushed to hospital alongside four other Australians in a suspected poisoning at a five-star Fiji resort has slammed local authorities over their handling of the case as what she sees as “unacceptable” in a post online.
American Jill Juarez fell ill at the Warwick Resort on December 14 and was rushed to hospital along with five other people, all of whom had consumed a pina colada.
In a post on a Fiji travel Facebook page, Juarez said she has been left “angry, scared, frustrated and sad” by the way the incident has been handled and has now engaged a lawyer.
Methanol poisoning has been ruled out as the cause of the incident, according to Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister.
“I have kept quiet about what is to follow here as I thought I would have received more help/answers,” she said.
“But I’ve reached the end of my patience. I simply want answers.”
Juarez said in the post she is still in Fiji as she recovers from the suspected poisoning, which left her unable to walk, all-over numbness and “massive non-stop heart palpitations.”
“I was in the Sigatoka hospital for 24 hours and then rushed by ambulance to the Lautoka hospital for another 24-hour stay,” she wrote.
“We STILL have not received our personal blood and urine toxicology reports from either the hospital in Sigatoka or the one in Lautoka. It’s been 11 days. ELEVEN DAYS.”
She said she was initially interviewed twice by local police but has yet to hear from them since.
“It seems that once the results of the toxicology of the ‘selected samples of pina colada mix and/or alcohol’ from the Warwick were released showing no methanol, people were quick to move on,” she said.
“But SOMETHING happened.”
Juarez said she has now hired a lawyer.
“The reality is: some people are still gravely ill. I, for one, am very worried about how I may be affected down the line. This whole experience has made me beyond angry, scared, frustrated and sad,” she said.
“So I ask again, WHO is helping ME? Where is the compassion and empathy for ME and the other women? I also have an appointment with my physician in America for a full lab work-up including finger nail and hair follicle testing which will show ANY toxins that were in my system for the past 90 days. The truth will come out one way or another.”
Australian Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, experienced a seizure, while her mother, Tanya, 49, was hospitalized for two nights.
The pair have since been released from hospital and flew home last week.
The incident drew global attention after the suspected methanol poisoning of at least six people at a hostel in the Southeast Asian country of Laos last month, which killed two Australians.
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka was quick to rule out that methanol had been used in the Pina Coladas.
“I can confirm that no illicit substances or methanol were found in the ingredients or liquor samples,” Gavoka said after the incident.
“All of the affected tourists and the locals have now been discharged from medical care, fully recovered. This is a significant relief.
“No tourist wants to end their holiday in illness and we are sorry that their holiday ended on such a note.”
Warwick Fiji Resort has been contacted for comment.
