
Mom and Son’s Dream Vacation Turns Tragic as Food Poisoning Claims Their Lives at Dominican Resort
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A family’s dream vacation ended in tragedy when a mother and her 8-year-old son died from food poisoning at a Dominican resort, leading to a new $10 million lawsuit. The Gougeon family, hailing from Toronto, had traveled to the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham Resort just after Christmas in December 2023, where they enjoyed a buffet dinner on their first night.
By 6 a.m. the following morning, the entire family was severely ill. Mother April Gougeon and her son Oliver were rushed to the hospital, where they tragically passed away due to complications related to food poisoning. “We were all throwing up,” father Stephen Gougeon told CTV in his first public remarks since the devastating loss. “It progressed to a point where we had to try and seek medical attention,” he added.
The family, including their other son Wesley, desperately sought help from resort staff but were initially directed to the on-site medical clinic, which was inaccessible given their critical condition. “We begged staff for help but were told they would need to get to the on-site medical clinic, which was impossible in their condition,” Stephen explained, reported by the New York Post.
Only when it became clear that their condition was worsening did the resort send assistance. The family was eventually taken to the clinic in wheelchairs before being rushed by ambulance to a local hospital. At the hospital, both April and Oliver began having trouble breathing. “They degraded and then my son passed away… and then very shortly after, my wife passed away,” Stephen recounted through tears.
Stephen waited until the next day to inform Wesley, then seven years old, of his mother and older brother’s deaths, describing it as “the worst thing a father and a husband will ever have to do.”
A local coroner’s report from the Dominican Republic confirmed that April and Oliver died from complications related to food poisoning. The $10 million civil lawsuit alleges that the resort failed to maintain proper hygiene standards and lacked effective emergency procedures, leading to delays in responding to the family’s urgent health needs. “When [the resort] finally responded after our further plea, there appeared to be confusion about how to handle the situation,” Stephen stated in a heartfelt declaration. “These delays cost precious time that could have been used to treat our illness. And in the end, it cost my wife and my son their lives.”
Filed in Toronto Superior Court, the lawsuit names Wyndham Hotel Canada II. Inc., Air Transat Holidays A.T. Inc., Transat Tours Canada Inc., Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham, and Clinica Canela, the on-site medical clinic, as defendants. The legal action seeks accountability for what the Gougeon family describes as a preventable tragedy caused by the resort’s inadequate response and safety measures.
“Their actions are trying to make something good out of this horrific tragedy that they’ve been through and continue to live with every day,” Meghan Hull Jacquin, the family’s attorney, told CTV. She emphasized the ongoing emotional and financial burden the family bears due to the resort’s alleged negligence.
As the lawsuit progresses, the Gougeon family hopes to find justice and ensure that such a tragedy does not happen to other families in the future. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of stringent safety protocols and prompt medical response in hospitality settings.