Susan had been having a great time on an idyllic Fijian vacation with her daughter. What had been their peaceful retreat soon turned into a nightmare on the last day, as the family…When Susan did the Warwick Resort piña colada pool bar in December, Legends Volunteer Manager Susan was one of these. In that instant, her entire life was upended. Hours after her first shot, she experienced a tragic reaction that resulted in going into a coma and had her fighting for her life.
Since Susan had already suffered a stroke, she was more at risk. However, after just two sips of the cocktail, she noticed something strange. Even as Marais articulated her concern over the beverage, she kept drinking it. Moments later, Susan dropped, sinking into an unconscious stupor for five hours.
Health Crisis and Medical Response
When Susan finally reached the hospital, her situation was critical. Medical imaging revealed extensive damage surrounding her frontal lobe. The specialists noted that her heart had gone into a state of “stress cardiomyopathy” as the alarm bells from her brain post-seizure were too much to bear. Susan’s heart function went down to a mere 25 percent. Fluid started to pool around her heart, putting her in need of aggressive and acute medical care.
As you can see from this photo taken three days later, Susan stayed in an induced coma, intubated and fighting for her life. Her daughter had purchased the beverage in question. When Miriam observed her mother’s frightening response, panic and trauma filled her.
“By the time I got out, my daughter found me, and she was hysterical; she was having like an allergic-type reaction to the drink,” – Susan
During her long recovery, Susan has shared her shock and rage at the whole experience. She remembers not knowing what was going on as her body just went haywire.
“I could feel I was starting to lose control,” – Susan
Whatever the cause, her experiences have left her convinced that she was “poisoned” by contaminated alcohol.
“I believe that the alcohol we consumed was tainted and that we were poisoned,” – Susan
Ongoing Recovery and Concerns
In the five months since her ordeal, Susan has been busily engaged on her road back to recovery. Her health condition has made it impossible for her to work. To add insult to injury, her driver’s license was recently revoked when she started having seizures.
Susan’s confusion and frustration only grows as she tries to piece together what happened in the moments leading up to her medical emergency. She has decried their lack of accountability from the Warwick Resort and Fijian leaders.
“We want some sort of acceptance of responsibility, probably from the Warwick, foremost, but also from the Fiji authorities who we feel have tried to shut down or underplay what happened,” – Susan
Local authorities were the first to test the cocktail, and they found no illegal drugs present. Even after this big study came out, Susan was still doubtful about those results.
“We wish to reiterate that initial testings did not reveal any presence of illicit substances,” – [no specific person mentioned]
A Call for Action
Susan’s experience underscores the reality that we need more transparency and accountability in the hospitality sector. She’s standing up for not just herself, but future at-risk guests that come through the community.
“I don’t want this to happen to any future guest. It was so traumatising,” – Susan
Her story has shone light on the larger safety concerns that exist in tourist hotspots around the world, including Fiji. Harvard’s Viliame Gavoka, on behalf of the Fijian authorities, put everyone at ease. Further, he said, Fiji continues to be a very safe and welcoming environment for tourists.
“We wish to assure everyone that Fiji remains a safe and welcoming destination for tourists,” – Viliame Gavoka
For Susan and her daughter, the scars from that day’s trauma continue to hurt. They wrestle with a black sea of doubt and anxiety that buries their hearts and spirits.
“We’re frustrated because we’ve got no real evidence of what happened to us; that’s the most frustrating thing, and we feel that’s been blatantly done, a cover-up,” – Susan
As Susan fights and perseveres through her recovery journey, she looks for answers and justice to be served for her and herself. Her commitment extends to everyone who travels to Fiji looking for rest, renewal and fun.
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