A holiday vacation to paradise turned tragic for a Toronto family as a mother and her 8-year-old son died at a luxury resort. April Gougeon and Oliver Gougeon photos courtesy of Stephen Gougeon on Facebook.

ICYMI: Heartbreaking—Toronto Family’s Dream Vacation Turns Deadly at Luxury Resort!

A holiday vacation to paradise turned tragic for a Toronto family as a mother and her 8-year-old son died at a luxury resort. 🌐 #News #TorontoON #Ontario #Crime

TORONTO, ON – A Toronto, Ontario family’s once-in-a-lifetime trip to paradise ended in heartbreak when a mother and her young son died from severe food poisoning at a Dominican resort. The Gougeon family, who had been excited to celebrate the holidays abroad, saw their dream unravel in a matter of hours. Now, a $10 million lawsuit seeks justice for the devastating loss.

Illness Strikes Hours After Family Arrives

The Gougeon family flew from Toronto to the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham Resort, excited to enjoy their getaway just after Christmas in December 2023. Their first night seemed promising as they indulged in the resort’s buffet dinner.

But by 6 a.m. the following morning, the situation turned nightmarish. The entire family, including 8-year-old Oliver and his younger brother Wesley, were violently ill.

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April Gougeon and her two sons struggled as symptoms rapidly worsened. Desperate for help, father Stephen Gougeon frantically sought medical assistance but was met with obstacles. Staff initially insisted the family make their way to the on-site clinic, a task that proved impossible given their condition.

Delayed Medical Response Turns Deadly

It wasn’t until the family’s condition deteriorated further that resort staff finally intervened. By then, precious time had already slipped away. The family was taken to the clinic in wheelchairs and later rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital. But by the time they arrived, the damage was done.

April and Oliver experienced respiratory complications soon after arriving at the hospital. Both mother and son tragically died within hours of each other, leaving Stephen to face the unimaginable task of breaking the news to 7-year-old Wesley.

Coroner Confirms Food Poisoning as Cause

A local coroner’s report officially confirmed that the deaths were caused by complications from food poisoning. Stephen described the crushing moment he informed Wesley that his mother and older brother would not be coming home.

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The family has since filed a $10 million civil lawsuit, alleging that the resort failed to maintain proper hygiene, lacked emergency preparedness, and delayed critical medical intervention. The lawsuit claims that these failures directly contributed to the deaths of April and Oliver.

Lawsuit Targets Multiple Defendants

The legal filing in Toronto Superior Court lists several defendants, including Wyndham Hotel Canada II, Air Transat Holidays, Transat Tours Canada, Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham, and the on-site medical clinic, Clinica Canela. The lawsuit accuses them of negligence and demands accountability for their role in the family’s tragedy.

The family’s lawyer described the case as more than just seeking compensation—it’s a fight to prevent future tragedies. The surviving members of the Gougeon family continue to grieve, haunted by the memories of a vacation that became a living nightmare.

The tragic loss of April and Oliver Gougeon leaves an irreplaceable void, but their memory lives on through the strength of their surviving family. As the verse from Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” offering comfort in times of unimaginable grief.

RELATED TOPICS: Canada | Crime | Dominican Republic | Travel

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