British couple died in 'suspicious' circumstances, daughter says, as Egyptian authorities insist both died of heart attacks

Official statement comes after daughter Kelly Ormerod said her parents ‘had no health problems’

Egyptian authorities have said the British couple who died suddenly at the Red Sea resort of Hurghada both suffered from heart and respiratory failure, but their daughter has said she believes the deaths are “suspicious”.

Despite some confusion about the cause of their deaths, the office of the Hurghada governorate said mortuary results revealed “no criminal suspicions” over the deaths of John and Susan Cooper at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel earlier this week.

Mr Cooper died of “sudden failure in the heart muscle and respiratory failure”, according to the judgement of a Hurghada mortuary official shared with the BBC.

His wife was rushed to hospital five hours after her husband’s death and was given “heart recovery work” lasting for 30 minutes before she was also pronounced dead.

The mortuary official said she had suffered “a drop in blood circulation and respiratory function”.

Kelly Ormerod was staying at the hotel with her parents when they died. She said neither had been experiencing any health problems prior to collapsing at the resort.

“Prior to going on holiday, mum and dad were fit and healthy,” Ms Ormerod told Lancashire-based radio station 2BR on Friday. “They had no health problems at all.

“I believe something suspicious has gone on ... something has happened in that room and caused them to be taken away from us.

“All we want is answers about what has happened and a cause of death.”

Ms Ormerod added: “As a family we are devastated. Mum and dad meant the world to me and the children, and we are in utter shock over what has happened and what is happening.”

Thomas Cook announced that all 301 of its holidaymakers would be removed from the hotel as a precaution after it received reports of “illness” among other guests.

Hotel guests reported widespread food poisoning symptoms and Thomas Cook said there had been a “raised level of illness among guests”.

Alison Cope, from Moseley, Birmingham, said she has been at the hotel for two weeks, and five out of seven of her family members have been ill for about 10 days.

The 44-year-old, who flies home on Friday evening, said: “The food is just disgusting, it’s undercooked. I know so many people have been ill. Half the time we don’t know what it is and can’t eat it because it’s raw in the middle.”

One guest, who wished to remain anonymous, said children had suffered ear infections and claimed the pool water was changed overnight on Tuesday and there was a strong smell of disinfectant around the resort on Wednesday.

The hotel doctor, chef and food safety manager had a “stand-up row in the main buffet restaurant” on Wednesday, he said.

But Dieter Geiger, general manager at Aqua Magic, said there was no evidence to support an “increased incidence of illness” at the hotel, which he dismissed as “rash speculations”.

“The doctor’s preliminary report indicates that death was due to natural causes,” he said.

Thomas Cook said its guests at the Steigenberger hotel would be offered alternative accommodation within Hurghada from Friday onwards, or given the option to return home.

A spokesman said: “We will be contacting those customers due to travel to the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada in the next four weeks to offer alternative holiday options.”

Ms Ormerod thanked the company for their support at a difficult time.

“Thomas Cook have been amazing, we have support from the company and I can’t praise them enough for what they’ve done,” she said. “I’d also like to thank people at home for their messages of love and support during this horrendous ordeal.”

Offering his “thoughts and prayers Egypt’s Minister of Tourism Dr Rania Al-Mashat said: “Initial medical reports indicate that the two died from natural causes but we wait formal autopsy results in the days ahead.

“We will take every precaution to make sure other tourists are safe and a senior working group will shortly conduct a detailed investigation to eliminate any other possible concerns about the health and well-being of other holidaymakers in the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel.”