The widow of a man who died while snorkeling on a Tui all-inclusive Caribbean vacation has accepted a six-figure settlement from the tour operator, just days before a High Court trial.
TUI is a well-known leisure, travel, and tourism company in Germany.
Roy Fawcett, a Swindon father of two, was pulled unresponsive from the sea in the Dominican Republic in 2017 at the age of 58.
Roy and Sue planned a trip to Paradise Island just two days before their all-inclusive vacation ended in October 2017.
The small island is only accessible by boat and is known for its clear waters and marine wildlife.
While Sue stayed in the shallows, Roy went snorkeling with another group, including tourists, but was later found face down and motionless.
Members of the crowd assisted in getting Roy to the beach, where he was taken by boat to the mainland and then to the hospital.
Sue Fawcett, his wife, filed a lawsuit against Tui, the tourism company through which the couple booked their vacation. She stated that they had also booked a snorkel tour at Paradise Island with Tui, but the tour operator claimed that the excursion was not included in their package.
In 2021 the Daily Mail reported that Sue had sued Tui for £560,000.
An inquest into his death concluded that Roy, a project manager, died from “accidental drowning on a poorly monitored holiday excursion”.
Days before a trial in the High Court, Tui agreed an undisclosed six-figure out of court settlement. It denied liability.
“While it’s more than five years since Roy’s death, the hurt and pain is as strong now as it was then,” Mrs Fawcett, 60, said.
“I’d do anything to have Roy back but I know that’s not possible.
“Before signing up to anything I’d urge all holidaymakers to make sure they know who’s organising any trips and what safety measures are in place.
“I can’t turn the clock back but by speaking out I just hope that I can raise awareness of what we’ve been through to potentially help others.”
Sue, a support worker, said that she and Roy only booked the trip under the impression it was provided by Tui. However, the tour operator argued the excursion didn’t form part of their package.
Tui said in a statement: “Our thoughts remain with Mrs Fawcett and her family. As this is a legal matter it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further.”
Sue said: “I lost my husband and best friend who I thought I would grow old with. There’s not a day goes by where I don’t think of Roy and get upset that he’s no longer in our lives.
“We had so many hopes and plans for the future and it’s difficult not to think these were snatched away from us. Birthdays and family occasions are particularly difficult and just not the same without Roy by my side.”