CANCUN, Mexico – July 22, 2025 – A British family’s dream holiday turned into a nightmare when a violent gunfight erupted at the Riu Palace Costa Mujeres, a luxury TUI resort in Mexico, forcing them to hide under sun loungers for safety. Colin Nulty, 41, a former firefighter from Bolton, was vacationing with his wife and 14-year-old daughter in April when armed men stormed the pool area, unleashing chaos.
The incident began as the family relaxed by the pool. Gunfire broke out just meters away, with bullets flying and screams filling the air. Colin and his wife dove for cover behind sun loungers, trembling as they shielded themselves from the danger. Their daughter, who had returned to their room moments earlier, received frantic texts from Colin instructing her to lock the door and stay away from the balcony. “It was terrifying. You could tell it was gunfire straight away. Everybody dived for cover,” Colin told reporters.As the shooting subsided, Colin, drawing on his 25 years of fire service experience, rushed to aid a man shot in the head but found him beyond help. The situation escalated when another armed individual emerged, shouting and brandishing a gun, forcing Colin to sprint back to his wife. The family, along with other guests, fled down a grassy embankment for safety. The hotel later confirmed the incident stemmed from an undercover police operation targeting drug dealers that went awry, according to a Riu Hotels and Resorts spokesperson.
TUI arranged a transfer to another hotel, but the family’s ordeal continued. En route, they learned of another shootout at the Princess Hotel, their intended destination, involving a kidnapping attempt. Reluctantly, they returned to the Riu Palace, feeling “on edge” and unsafe due to lax security, with Colin noting unauthorized individuals freely entering the resort. “We didn’t even feel safe on the roads; we felt exposed,” he said.
The family, who spent £8,000 on the trip, described the experience as traumatic, with Colin’s wife suffering from PTSD, profoundly impacting their daily lives. Seeking a refund, Colin faced frustration as TUI initially responded but later ceased communication, offering no written acknowledgment or compensation. “They’ve made it so hard for us, hoping I’ll just stop, but I won’t,” Colin said, now pursuing action through ABTA and small claims court.TUI has not commented publicly on the incident, leaving the family and other affected guests seeking answers. The terrifying episode has raised concerns about safety at popular holiday destinations, with Colin urging better security measures to protect tourists.
