Emotional scenes as Aussie mum and daughter who drank poisonous cocktails at five star resort in Fiji return home
EXCLUSIVE
An Australian mother and daughter poisoned by cocktails during a holiday in Fiji hugged and kissed family members when they arrived home on Monday night.
Tanya Sandoe, 56, and her 19-year-old daughter Georgia Sandoe-Simpson looked happy to be back on home soil as they wheeled their own luggage out of Sydney Airport shortly after 7pm on Monday night.
The pair from Sydney’s upper north shore were among seven guests who were rushed to hospital on Saturday after drinking at Warwick Fiji on the holiday island’s Coral Coast.
Two other Aussies were also hospitalised.
The mum and daughter beamed as they were reunited with Ms Sandoe’s parents David and Pamela and another male family member at a side exit, escorted by Australian Federal Police officers and out of the sight of most of the waiting media.
Ms Sandoe-Simpson was first to hug and kiss her grandfather, who then turned his attention to his daughter.
The holidaymakers had both been drinking cocktails by the pool of the five-star Warwick Fiji resort when they fell violently ill on Saturday night.
Georgia suffered a seizure after drinking the cocktail and was the most ill out of the pair.
The pair were rushed to nearby Sigatoka Hospital suffering symptoms including nausea and vomiting, and were released on Monday.
Tanya Sandoe, 56, and her 19-year-old daughter Georgia Sandoe-Simpson are back on home soil after their Fiji holiday became a nightmare
The Sydney mum received a warm welcome home from her dad David
Mr Sandoe told Daily Mail Australia his daughter and granddaughter had only been discharged from hospital hours earlier and allowed to return home on condition they flew business class.
‘I’m not even sure they’ll be able to walk out,’ he said before their flight touched down.
‘We just want to get them home.’
The family left in a Toyota LandCruiser, with Ms Sandoe and her daughter likely to need further medical treatment.
The pair had travelled to Fiji for a relaxing holiday after a big 2024.
‘We are very thankful they seem to be doing okay. It’s such a relief,’ her mother Pamela told Daily Mail Australia earlier on Monday.
‘From what we know they are recovering as well as can be expected and we will be picking them up this afternoon. We will be looking after them here.’
Her husband added: ‘It’s very difficult to take a call at 11pm and your daughter and granddaughter are away and your daughter says that they’ve been poisoned and they’re in hospital.’
‘It’s your worst nightmare.’
Georgia Sandoe-Simpson was reunited with loved ones, including grandfather David Sandoe
Tanya Sandoe was reunited with her parents and another family member (pictured)
David and Pamela Sandoe (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia that they were keen to get their daughter and granddaughter home
All remaining guests had improved to a stable condition as of Monday.
It comes as experts issued a grave warning to Aussie tourists that their drinks could become spiked no matter where they are staying.
The Fiji incident comes weeks after six tourists, including two Australians, were killed after drinking methanol-laced drinks at a two-star hostel in Laos last month.
While Fijian authorities are yet to determine if the latest incident is due to methanol poisoning, it has renewed calls for Aussies to be careful while drinking overseas.
Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) CEO Dean Long told Daily Mail Australia methanol poisonings were rare, but could happen anywhere in the world.
‘These events, they do happen. They happen in Australia, they happen around the world and so they’re not destination specific,’ he said.
More than 400,000 Aussies travelled to Fiji in the past year – a holiday hotspot considered to be a ‘safe destination’ for tourists.
‘In this situation, these people have done everything right,’ Mr Long said.
‘They’ve had a drink at a beautiful venue. You would expect that to be the safest place you can be.’
Mr Long said individuals could substitute alcohol for methanol because it was cheaper or because they sought to ‘do harm’.
He added those responsible ‘need to be locked up’ and had complete trust in the Fijian government to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, was all smiles as she returned home from Fiji with her mum, two nights after suffering a seizure
Georgia Sandoe-Simpson, 19, (pictured) suffered a seizure due to the suspected poisoning
Georgia’s mother, Tanya (left), was also hospitalised but the pair are now flying home after being cleared to travel on Monday
‘We know the Fijian government will throw the book at these people and they’re going to lock them up because the tourism industry is just so important to that community,’ Mr Long said.
Earlier this month, police arrested the owner of the factory identified as the suspected source of the Laos methanol poisoning.
The manufacturing plant is located outside the capital city Vientiane and is understood to have been making the local Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whiskey.
The recent round of arrests now means 12 people have been detained over their alleged connection to the poisonous alcohol.
Seven guests, including four Aussies, were hospitalised after drinking cocktails by the pool at Warwick Fiji resort (pictured) in the south of Fiji’s main island on Saturday nigh
Mr Long urged Aussies to follow safe drinking practices no matter where they are overseas and how good the quality of the venue is.
His tips include keeping ‘an eye on their drink when it’s being made’ to make sure bottles aren’t contaminated or to ask for a fresh bottle of spirits.
‘But pre-mixed drinks that are sealed in a secure container are probably preferable while travelling,’ Mr Long said.
‘If you want to have some spirits, maybe buy them in Australia and take them overseas and consume them safely there, and then have those pre mixed, secured drinks when you’re out on the town.’
Mr Long said a number of Aussies have also turned to travelling with kits capable of testing for methanol to remain safe.
