Thomas Cook has evacuated 300 Brits from a hotel in Egypt following the deaths of two English tourists.
Susan and John Cooper from Burnley were visiting the Steigenberger Aqua Magic hotel in Hurghada when they fell ill and died. Their daughter, Kelly, also fell ill but survived.
The cause of their deaths is yet to be established, although tour operator Thomas Cook has said that there is ‘currently no evidence’ to suggest it was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, amid speculation from fellow guests.
Susan, 64, was a Thomas Cook employee, based in their shop in Burnley, Lancashire.
Thomas Cook reacted by pulling all of its guests from the five star hotel ‘as a precautionary measure’ as reports emerged that other customers had been taken ill.
The Governor of Hurghada’s office said the cause of John Cooper’s death was ‘a sudden stoppage of the heart muscles and respiratory failure’, while Susan died of ‘a stoppage of circulation and respiratory failure’.
The office spokesperson continued: “There was no reason to suspect the death was of a criminal nature.”
These findings were revealed to the public shortly after the Coopers’ daughter, Kelly Ormerod, told Sky Newsthat her parents had been ‘in perfect health’ just hours earlier.
Mr Ormerod, who had been on holiday with John and Susan, along with her children, said she believed ‘something suspicious’ had happened to her parents. She explained that they had all enjoyed a meal together before the Coopers went to bed at around 1.30am.
Around 11am the next day, she found them unwell in their room.
“I watched them die before my very eyes and they had exactly the same symptoms,” said Ms Ormerod.
“I believe something suspicious has gone on. I don’t believe anyone has entered the room, but something has happened in that room and caused them to be taken away from us.”
Thomas Cook had earlier released a statement reacting to the incident and explaining why they took the step of removing their guests from the hotel.
“We are deeply saddened by the deaths of two of our customers, one of whom was a loyal and long-serving member of our family,” they wrote. “We are supporting their loved ones and urgently investigating.”
“Safety is always our first priority, so as a precautionary measure we have taken a decision to remove all our customers from this hotel.
“While we understand this is upsetting for those on holiday, we believe this is the right thing to do.
“We continue to work closely with the hotel and are supporting the authorities with their investigations.”
The Steigenberger Aqua Magic hotel’s general manager, Dieter Geiger, strongly denied ‘an increased incidence of illness’ at the resort, Sky News reports.
Mr Geiger had earlier claimed that a doctor’s preliminary report suggested the Coopers had died of natural causes.
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