Egypt hotel couple's deaths 'inconclusive', lawyers say The family's lawyers say more tests are needed to determine the Coopers' cause of death this summer.

Image: John and Susan Cooper died at a resort in Hurghada, Egypt

Post-mortems on a couple who died while on holiday in Egypt have not found their cause of death, lawyers have said.

The news comes almost a month after the British couple died in their hotel room while on a Thomas Cook holiday.

John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, Lancashire, died on 21 August while staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

Forensic examinations carried out by authorities in Egypt reported the cause of deaths as being linked to E.coli bacteria.

This was dismissed by the couple's daughter Kelly Ormerod, 40, who said she has "no faith" in Egyptian authorities.


The "inconclusive" post-mortems carried out in the UK will be followed up by further tests, according to the family's solicitors.

Image: Kelly Ormerod has 'no faith' in the Egyptian authorities

The statement from the lawyers said: "By way of update, we can confirm that a Home Office post-mortem has now been carried out on John and Susan Cooper.

"Unfortunately, notwithstanding the 'positive', though contradictory, assertions of the Egyptian authorities, the results of that post-mortem were inconclusive, and the pathologist was unable to ascertain the likely cause of death in either case.

"It is understood that further toxicological screening and other relevant tests will now be carried out as a matter of urgency to aid that process.

"An inquest is to be opened on the 18th September and the family are certain that the coroner will undertake a rigorous investigation of all the circumstances surrounding the deaths to enable answers to be provided.

"Kelly and her family remain committed to establishing the true cause of John and Susan's deaths and holding those responsible to account."

Image: Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada. Pic: Steigenberger

Egyptian authorities said examinations showed Mr Cooper, 69, suffered acute intestinal dysentery caused by E.coli, and Mrs Cooper, a 63-year-old Thomas Cook employee, suffered a complication linked to infection, likely to have been caused by E.coli.

The bodies of the couple reportedly showed "no criminal violence" and other tests of air and water at the hotel found nothing unusual.

Thomas Cook's own tests identified a high level of E.coli at the hotel.

The firm said the independent specialists it commissioned to carry out the tests, and Dr Vanya Gant from University College London Hospitals' NHS Foundation Trust, did not believe the results "shed any light" on the cause of the Coopers' deaths.

Thomas Cook moved 300 guests out of the hotel 24 hours after the couple died as a precaution.

Inquests into the deaths of the couple are expected to place at Preston Coroner's Court on Tuesday.