A heartbroken Canadian father is suing a Dominican Republic resort & its travel partners for $10 million after his wife and young son tragically died from food poisoning during a Christmas vacation in 2023.
Stephen Gougeon filed a lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court on behalf of himself and his surviving son, alleging negligence by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Air Transat subsidiaries, and Clinica Canela, a medical clinic located at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham in La Romana.
The lawsuit claims that Gougeon’s wife, April, 41, and their eight-year-old son, Oliver, became severely ill shortly after arriving at the resort and enjoying a meal at the buffet. Despite repeated pleas for help, Gougeon alleges that the resort staff initially failed to respond to the family’s urgent medical needs.
By the time medical assistance arrived, April and Oliver’s condition had significantly deteriorated. They were rushed to a local hospital in an ambulance, where they tragically succumbed to complications arising from food poisoning.
“A Devastating Loss”
“Coming home without April and Oliver by my side, just as they were a few days before, is an indescribable pain,” Gougeon shared in a statement released by his legal team.
The lawsuit contends that the resort and travel companies failed to maintain adequate hygiene standards, lacked proper emergency response protocols, and did not promptly address the family’s critical medical needs.
Gougeon’s legal counsel, Megan Hull Jacquin, emphasized that the family seeks accountability from those involved and hopes to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Traveler Safety Concerns
The Gougeon family’s tragic experience underscores the critical importance of traveller safety at all-inclusive resorts. This lawsuit raises serious concerns regarding hygiene practices, emergency response procedures, and the availability of adequate medical care at popular tourist destinations.
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This incident surely serves as a stark reminder for Canadians to thoroughly research resorts and travel companies before booking vacations, especially when considering destinations with limited medical resources.
