Authorities say heart, as well as parts of liver and kidneys of David Humphries were taken to establish cause of death

Egyptian authorities have denied reports of alleged organ theft after the body of a British tourist who died suddenly while on holiday was returned home without some organs.

David Humphries, 62, died in the seaside resort of Hurghada on the shores of the Red Sea on 18 September.

His body was returned to the UK where a second post-mortem examination ordered by a coroner discovered his heart and other organs had been removed.

Accusing the UK media of publishing “flawed reports”, the Egyptian state information service said on Sunday that allegations of organ theft were “unfounded”.

The statement said samples were taken and the heart, parts of the liver, kidneys and other organs had been removed in order to establish the cause of death. It did not give an explanation as to why they had not been replaced.

The service said the tourist had probably died of a heart attack, citing the medical report.

It also quoted his daughter, Anita Goodall, as saying that she did “not accuse anyone of having a hand in the death of her father”.

In another case in Hurghada on 21 August, travel operator Thomas Cook moved all its clients to another hotel after a British couple died in what their daughter called “suspicious” circumstances.

Egyptian authorities say John and Susan Cooper, who fell ill and died suddenly while staying at the five-star Steigenberger aqua magic hotel in the resort, succumbed to the effects of an E coli infection.