Twenty hygiene cases against Egypt hotel where British couple died
Lawyer Nick Harris says clients complained about hygiene at the hotel in Hurghada, with issues coming back "time and time again".
Saturday 25 August 2018 13:30, UK
At least 20 people have brought legal claims against a hotel in Egypt where a British couple died, it has emerged.
Nick Harris, a partner at law firm Simpson Millar who is representing the group, said his clients had reported becoming unwell after recent stays at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada.
John Cooper, 69, and Susan Cooper, 63, from Burnley, Lancashire, died on Tuesday morning while on holiday at the resort with their daughter and her three children.
Mr Harris told Sky News the complaints concerned hygiene standards at the hotel.
He said: "The food, the temperatures of the food, things like that. It seems to be the same complaints coming back time and time again.
"Nobody seems to be taking this seriously. Thomas Cook has all sorts of excuses they want to come out with; it's the weather, it's the change in climate, it's too much alcohol - every single excuse apart from actually listening and taking on board what these people are saying."
A Thomas Cook spokesman said the travel firm was aware of a number of customers who had come forward to say they became ill while staying at the hotel.
It comes after the Coopers' daughter told Sky News she believes "something suspicious" caused their deaths.
Kelly Ormerod said her parents were fit and well at around 1.30am, but had become "extremely ill" when she saw them again 10 hours later.
She said: "I watched them die before my very eyes and they had exactly the same symptoms.
"I believe something suspicious has gone on. I don't believe anyone has entered the room, but something has happened in that room that caused them to be taken away from us."
The local governor's office has said the cause of Mr Cooper's death was "a sudden stoppage of the heart muscles and respiratory failure", while his wife - who worked for Thomas Cook - died due to "a stoppage of circulation and respiratory failure".
"There was no reason to suspect the death was of a criminal nature," the governor's office said.
Thomas Cook - which has removed 301 customers from the resort amid reports of a "raised level of illness among guests" - ruled out reports that carbon monoxide could have been a possible cause of the Coopers' deaths.
A spokesman for the company said: "We are very sorry for those customers whose holidays have been spoiled.
"We take all illness very seriously and we will continue to investigate any outstanding cases."
It is understood a British consular official will meet Ms Ormerod, who remains in Egypt, on Friday evening.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We continue to support the family of a couple who died in Hurghada, Egypt, and remain in contact with Thomas Cook.
"Anyone staying at the Steinberger Aqua Magic Hotel should follow the advice of their tour operator and the local authorities."