Tests carried out at Hurghada hotel where British couple mysteriously died
Thomas Cook has brought in experts to test water, food and air conditioning at the hotel in Hurghada, Egypt, where a British couple died last week.
The operator’s chief executive, Peter Fankhauser, has promised to ‘get to the bottom’ of what caused the deaths of John and Susan Cooper, who were reportedly in good health before they died suddenly last Tuesday morning.
The couple’s daughter, Kelly Ormerod, who was on holiday with them, has reportedly hired her own lawyer to investigate the deaths. Now back in the UK, she has said she believes ‘something suspicious’ happened.
Mr Fankhauser told Sky News test results from the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel should be known within 10 days.
He told the news channel: "We have no real evidence what caused the deaths, but what I can promise is at Thomas Cook we are doing everything to support the family and to support the Egyptian authorities…to get to the bottom of it and to get to the cause."
He reiterated the message given in a statement by Thomas Cook on Friday afternoon, which said there was no evidence to link the deaths to carbon monoxide poisoning.
"We have no evidence but I don’t want to rule out anything before I really know the cause," he added.
Medical reports carried out in Egypt say the couple both suffered ‘respiratory failure’.
Sixty-nine-year-old Mr Cooper died of ‘a sudden stoppage of the heart muscles and respiratory failure’, while 63-year-old Mrs Cooper, who worked as a travel agent for Thomas Cook, died of ‘a stoppage of circulation and respiratory failure’.
Meanwhile, at least 20 people have brought legal claims against the hotel after reportedly feeling unwell after recent stays. They are being represented by law firm Simpson Millar.
Following the deaths last week, Thomas Cook moved 300 clients out of the hotel, although it is still operating.
The Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel was last audited by Thomas Cook in late July 2018 and received an overall score of 96%.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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