News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The Egyptian hotel where a British couple died in tragic but unknown circumstances has been struck by mass food poisoning, according to guests.

Thomas Cook customers staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada have been offered alternative accommodation following the sudden deaths of John and Susan Cooper on Tuesday.

The cause of death for the Burnley couple is unknown with the travel agent saying they were 'aware' of speculation it could have been carbon monoxide poisoning.

However shortly after midday on Friday they said there was no evidence to suggest that theory.

Meanwhile reports from the hospital say dozens of guests have been ill with food poisoning amid reports of undercooked food.

(Image: Susan Cooper Facebook)

Up to 40 guests are said to have been 'on their knees' with the illness.

Hotel guest 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 around 10 days.

The 44-year-old, who flies home on Friday evening, told the Press Association that other guests had been ill, saying: "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. We've spent almost two weeks at a five-star hotel eating bread and chips because we at least know what it is."

It had been reported that Mr Cooper, who ran his own building company in Burnley, Lancashire, had a heart attack and was rushed to hospital where he later passed away.

However his daughter Kelly Ormerod, who had been on holiday with her parents and her three children, said she watched the 69-year-old die in the hotel.

His wife Mrs Cooper, a long-serving Thomas Cook employee, was rushed to hospital but also later passed away.

(Image: Facebook) (Image: PA Graphics/Press Association Images)

Previous guests say they have developed serious food-related health conditions, including skin conditions and stomach bugs, during their visit to the luxury five-star hotel on Egypt's Red Sea.

Ayesha Carson went for a week-long stay with her family and a friend in February 2016 and says she developed stomach problems just days into her dream holiday.

"I was extremely ill when I left this hotel and had horrendous sickness for months", she told the Mirror, adding that her friend and brother also developed a stomach bug.

She branded the food hygiene as "terrible".

Upon arriving home, Ayesha visited hospital and was told she was suffering from gastroenteritis by doctors.

She says she still sufferers from symptoms of the debilitating condition - more than two years after her ordeal - and claims Thomas Cook "ignored" her complaints following her holiday.

Carly Sutton said she and her partner developed diarrhoea within hours of arrival at the resort in December 2017.

She sought medical attention and was prescribed a steroid injection by a hotel pharmacist to deal with a rash that just developed.

She told Thomas Cook that the hotel needs to be "seriously be looked into" and claimed she met others who had experienced the same symptoms.

She witnessed the young daughter of a family friend "projectile vomiting" and said the child developed the same irritable skin condition that she had sought medical treatment for.

Her experiences "ruined" what was meant to be a family getaway with her two kids.

(Image: Getty Images)

Sue Robinson described similar symptoms of food poisoning during a trip with her husband and claims she witnessed children vomiting in the hotel's main reception.

Thomas Cook said they are removing 300 customers from the Egypt hotel as a "precautionary measure."

In a statement, the travel company said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two of our customers who were staying in the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt.

"The circumstances of their deaths remain unclear. We are aware of the speculation in some of today’s media that their deaths may have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Currently we have no evidence to support this.

(Image: Facebook)

"A team of 24 Thomas Cook representatives have been supporting our 300 customers in the hotel overnight.

"We are offering customers alternative hotels within Hurghada, as well as giving them the option to return home.

"For those customers who choose to come home, we have made arrangements to fly them back today, 24 August.

"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 was last audited by Thomas Cook in late July 2018 and received an overall score of 96%.

"We will be contacting those customers due to travel to the Steigenberger Hotel in Hurghada in the next four weeks to offer alternative holiday options."

A spokesman for the hotel said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of two of our customers that were staying in the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in Hurghada, Egypt and we are in contact with the local tour operator."