Doctor issues warning as TikToker on vacation ‘vomits everywhere’ and needs medical assistance after one dinner

A healthcare professional has issued a warning after a TikToker was left 'vomiting everywhere' and needing medical assistance after having a dubious meal while traveling Bali.

The Indonesian island is one of the most popular backpacker routes on the planet, with a whopping 6.3 million international visitors heading to the province in 2024.

Lawrence Cooke, 20, from Nottingham in the UK, is one of the many who visited Indonesia in 2025, and managed to experience what the country has to offer.

However, Lawrence's view of the paradise destination was very much tainted by one meal that made he and his partner extremely unwell.

Speaking to UNILAD, Lawrence said: "My partner started feeling ill around 11 o'clock at night and we just thought nothing of it. But at about 1 in the morning, she woke me up and said, 'I'm really not well, I'm about to be sick'."

Lawrence accompanied his partner to the toilet and realized he wasn't feeling right himself. The pair thought the best thing to do was to try and get some sleep.

But just 30 minutes went by, and the TikToker woke up and ended up 'vomiting everywhere', an experience Lawrence described as 'awful'.

Lawrence continued: "So we were staying in the Airbnb, we didn't feel well, and then was up all night. We said we'll just stay in bed for the day and just see how we feel at the end of the day. And as the day went on, it just got worse and worse.

"We found out you could get a call out doctor, and we weren't too sure about it, so we just did a bit of research. It's so easy, they just come out to help you and talk about what sort of symptoms you've got, all the things you're suffering from. They gave [us] immune boosters and electrolytes."

After experiencing a wide range of horrible symptoms such as headaches and awful diarrhoea, Lawrence explained how he and his partner began feeling 'much better' just three hours after they received medical attention.

Some 19 hours after the first symptoms surfaced, Lawrence was back to his usual self, and the content creator admitted to UNILAD he believes it was a curry that saw him develop 'traveller's diarrhoea'.

Prof. Hakan Ümit Ünal, M.D, a gastroenterologist at Acibadem Hospitals, has explained the dangers to look out for when it comes to food and drink while travelling the world.

"'Bali Belly,' or traveller’s diarrhoea, is a pretty common issue for people visiting places where the food, water, and local bacteria are different from what their stomachs are used to," the healthcare professional explained to UNILAD.

"It’s usually caused by bacteria like E. coli, but other viruses and parasites can play a role, too."

While some people may refer to it as 'Bali Belly', it's worth noting that such a bug doesn't just happen on the Indonesian island.

Heck, it can happen anywhere in the world, with Bali often being talked about because it's a 'popular destination', according to Ünal.

So, what can you do to avoid becoming sick?

Well, Ünal explained: "To avoid falling prey to it, my advice is to stick to bottled or boiled water, be very careful when it comes to ice in drinks, and choose freshly cooked food. Washing your hands often goes a long way, too, as does giving raw salads or unpeeled fruit a miss, unless you know they’ve been washed safely.

"'Bali Belly' is usually quite mild, but don’t underestimate how bad it can get on occasion. Look out for red flags such as signs of dehydration (like dizziness, dry mouth, or very dark urine), high fever, or blood in the stool. It’s rare, but if dehydration gets worse and isn’t treated, it can be dangerous, so it’s vital to get medical help early."