This page provides a brief case history of medical incidents that have occurred in Fiji over the past 25 years. These examples are not presented to alarm or discourage, nor are they included out of shame. They are shared to introduce the reality that serious illness or injury does not only happen to “someone else.” Every visitor carries the same risks, and understanding that reality is part of travelling responsibly and safely.
Visitors are the heart of Fiji. Without tourism, Fiji as a nation and as a paradise simply does not exist. Resorts, livelihoods, and surrounding conservation projects all depend on the tourism industry. Every interaction between you and the local Fijian people creates a connection that becomes part of a shared history and continues to resonate long after your visit ends. For this reason, your health and well-being are the most important elements of your journey. Coming to Fiji, having the time of your life, returning home safely, and becoming an ambassador for the country truly matters. If there is only one message to take from this page, let it be this: travel and medical insurance is not optional — it is essential.
Visitor Advisory 1: Visitor Advisory: Your Health Comes First
Do not rely on local medical practitioners in Fiji for complex or serious medical procedures. Stabilising a patient so their condition does not worsen is one thing, but for major injury or illness, the safest option is to be transported back to your home country for further treatment. Further down this page, we share one of our own experiences — it is worth a quick read. It is also worth noting that members of Fiji’s upper-income community routinely travel overseas for major medical procedures and specialist treatment, rather than relying on local practitioners. While bedside manner in Fiji is often warm, caring, and reassuring, this can sometimes create the impression that medical care is more advanced than it actually is.
The simplest advice we can offer is this: cross one small experience off your to-do list and put that money toward comprehensive travel insurance instead. Add yourself to a family policy or obtain cover through a trusted provider such as World Nomads or another reputable insurer. That single decision ensures you are protected, gives you options if something goes wrong, and allows you to enjoy your time in Fiji with genuine peace of mind.
Fiji Is Paradise — Until It Isn’t. Real Emergencies That Insurance Saved
We have intentionally included an overview of major accidents that have occurred across Fiji since the year 2000 to provide context, not concern. Visitors are the most important part of what makes Fiji the special place it is today, and their safety and wellbeing matter greatly. Fiji is widely regarded as one of the safest destinations in the world, particularly in the outer islands, where communities are close-knit and welcoming. However, like any travel destination, unexpected accidents and medical emergencies can still occur.
For this reason, we strongly encourage all visitors to ensure they have appropriate travel and medical insurance before arriving. Even temporarily adding yourself to a family insurance plan that includes overseas medical cover can make a significant difference. Access to medical treatment and, if required, medical evacuation can be costly without insurance, and having suitable cover provides peace of mind so you can enjoy your time in Fiji safely and confidently.
May 2005
An Australian tourist, Dale Raymond Groeger, died in Suva after an incident reported in newspapers as a serious assault while staying at a hotel. Police treated the matter as a homicide.
Timeline of Reported Tourist Incidents in Fiji (Since 2000)
April 2006
British musician Keith Richards was injured while holidaying in Fiji after falling from a tree at a private resort. He was hospitalised and later transferred overseas for further treatment. The incident was reported internationally in major newspapers.
November 2007
A New Zealand tourist was fatally injured after being struck by a boat while swimming or snorkelling near Matamanoa Island. The cause of death was head injuries consistent with a propeller strike.
March 2008
An Australian tourist was injured after slipping on a wet tiled floor inside resort accommodation. The injury later became the subject of legal proceedings.
November 2009
An American tourist died after being struck in the head by a boat propeller while diving in waters near Qamea. The incident was reported as a marine accident involving a visitor.
FJ Experience 1 – Told He’d Never Walk Again
While medical facilities and the training of doctors in Fiji have improved over the past decade, they still fall well short of what most visitors would expect for serious illness or major injury. If something goes badly wrong, this is not a country where you would want to rely on local hospitals for complex diagnosis, trauma care, spinal injuries, or long-term treatment. We have personally visited local GPs and hospitals in Fiji on several occasions, and in our experience the diagnoses have been completely wrong more than once. At the time, these situations were not life-threatening and could be laughed about later, but they highlighted serious concerns about relying on local care in critical situations.
One recent example makes this point very clearly. A family member returned home after a night out, slightly intoxicated, misjudged his footing on concrete steps, and fell awkwardly. He was rushed to hospital, stabilised, and given pain relief. The following day, after reviewing X-rays, a doctor told him he would never move from the chest down again. As you can imagine, this was devastating news for everyone involved. Two days later, he began moving his feet, then his legs, followed by his waist and torso. The diagnosis had been completely wrong.
We have many similar stories, but this is the most recent and striking example. The key message is simple: do not put yourself in a position where you have no choice but to remain in-country for serious medical treatment. Having comprehensive medical and evacuation insurance gives you the option to return home for appropriate care if the worst should happen.
December 2012
An Australian school-leaver drowned at a resort pool while holidaying in Fiji. The death was reported in Fiji and Australian newspapers.
May 2014
An Australian tourist died after sustaining severe head injuries in a collision between boats near Mana Island.
May 2014
An Australian tourist drowned after snorkelling alone near the Coral Coast. He was reported missing and later found deceased; newspapers highlighted the risks of unsupervised water activity.
September 2014
Five Australian tourists were injured during a jet-boat excursion on the Sigatoka River when an accident occurred. All were hospitalised with reported injuries.
December 2015
Tourists were injured when a helicopter made a hard landing near a resort island. Injuries were reported as minor.
June 2019
An American couple became critically ill while holidaying in Fiji and later died in separate incidents. Their deaths were reported internationally and prompted investigations.
June 2019
A Malaysian tourist was seriously injured during a shark dive near Beqa after a tiger shark bite. The tourist survived but sustained severe injuries.
July 2022
An American tourist was killed while on her honeymoon at a private island resort. The case was treated as a homicide, with court proceedings reported in the press.
July 2023
A Waikato man holidaying in Fiji was critically injured while snorkelling near Dravuni Island after being struck by a small boat, suffering severe propeller injuries. He was treated in Fiji and medically evacuated back to New Zealand.
January 2024
Isabelle Silbery, a former Gogglebox cast member, was seriously injured while horse riding on holiday in Fiji, suffering a fractured spine after a fall. She reported being carried approximately 2 kilometres in the dark, transported by boat, and returned to her accommodation before receiving further care. Silbery later confirmed she had returned safely to Australia and faced a significant medical bill, highlighting evacuation and treatment costs for injured tourists.
January 2024
A tourist was found floating in the sea near a major resort area and was believed to have drowned. The death was reported in Fiji newspapers and investigated by police.
November 2024
A Japanese tourist drowned while swimming or snorkelling near a resort on the Coral Coast.
December 2024
Several foreign tourists became acutely ill after consuming drinks at a resort on the Coral Coast. Some required hospital treatment and at least one was medically evacuated overseas.
Final thoughts…
Get travel insurance with full coverage that includes every activity you might do while in Fiji. Do not limit your spontaneity or your experience because you tried to save money on insurance. Get the cover first, then enjoy the trip properly. The chances of something going wrong are slim, but they are the same chances every person in the cases above believed they had.
You make Fiji what it is. Without visitors, the country would not be what it is today. You are part of its story, leaving your footprints in Fiji’s history long after you leave. We have always used World Nomads, which is why we have chosen to affiliate with them. We receive a fee if you request a quote using our link. We do not represent World Nomads, and this is not a recommendation or requirement to purchase insurance from them. We look forward to welcoming you to Fiji and to seeing you return home safely.