Filthy sun-loungers, hazardous umbrellas and a swimming pool covered in dirt: Inside the ‘unhygienic’ Egyptian hotel where British couple mysteriously died
- EXCLUSIVE: John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, died suddenly last month
- They were on a ‘trip of a lifetime’ at the Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt
- There is mounting speculation they died from food, water or pesticide poisoning
- Dozens of other guests have shared shocking pictures of the ‘unhygienic’ hotel
Furious tourists who fell ill after staying at an Egyptian hotel where a ‘fit and healthy’ British couple mysteriously died have shared shocking pictures of the ‘catastrophically dirty’ resort.
Since John and Susan Cooper suddenly died two weeks ago, dozens have complained about poor health and safety standards at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada.
Photos sent to MailOnline show filthy sun-loungers, dirty bathrooms, uncovered food and hazardous umbrellas propped up by screws.
One video shows the swimming pool covered in grime with what appears to be mold gathered in the filter system.
Since John and Susan Cooper (pictured) suddenly died, dozens have complained about poor health and safety standards at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada
Michael Wasner, from Germany, fell ill at the hotel three weeks before the Coopers’ sudden deaths. He shared this picture of a dirty sun-lounger
This pictured appears to show a broken umbrella held up by only a screw at the hotel
Mold appears to have grown in one of the room’s bathrooms. A lawyer told MailOnline: ‘Clearly there’s been an illness issue at this hotel and they’ve tried to deal with it without closing so as not to impact finances’
Michael Wasner, from Germany, fell ill at the hotel three weeks before the Coopers’ sudden deaths sparked a mass evacuation of the complex.
He told MailOnline: ‘The hotel is in a catastrophic condition and the cleanliness is terrible.
‘Out of our group of eight, four of us were extremely sick. I can not imagine that Mr and Mrs Cooper died of a natural death.’
-
Were British couple who died suddenly at Egypt hotel…
British tourists in Cuba are treated on IV drips after ‘food…
Share this article
Travel claims lawyer Nick Harris of Simpson Millar told MailOnline there is a clear pattern of poor hygiene causing illness at the hotel.
He said: ‘I’ve now had German tourists contacting me saying they have been put on antibiotics to treat shigella, a bacteria similar to E.coli.
‘Clearly there’s been an illness issue at this hotel and they’ve tried to deal with it without closing so as not to impact finances.
Other pictures showed food left unwrapped. Travel claims lawyer Nick Harris of Simpson Millar told MailOnline there is a clear pattern of poor hygiene causing illness at the hotel
This image of the food taken by guest Michael Wasner appeared to show white spots on the meat
One video shows the swimming pool covered in dirt with what appears to be mold gathered in the filter system
This photo shows an umbrella propped up by a screw. A lawyer told MailOnline: ‘What the hotel really needs is to close its doors and have a deep clean.’
One umbrella was so badly damaged that it barely fit in its holder at the side of the pool
‘What the hotel really needs is to close its doors and have a deep clean.’
Hotel porters are now guarding room the Coopers stayed in as investigations into how they died continue.
Although officials insist their deaths were natural, theories include water, food and pesticide poisoning.
After the deaths, Thomas Cook evacuated 300 British holidaymakers from the resort due to ‘raised levels of illness.’
The company is still contacting evacuated customers to ask if they have fallen ill.
So far, 10 guests have told the company they were taken ill but they won’t be compensated beyond their full refund unless they can provide medical evidence.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism said fresh tests were due to be concluded this week and the bodies will then be repatriated. Pictured: The Aqua Magic hotel
This image shows dirty cups left out on the floor of the five star hotel on the Red Sea
Not exactly five star: Other photos showed how metal in the bathrooms was rusting
Light switches in the hotel bedroom were grimy and covered in dirt, guests said
This image shows an inflatable in the Aqua Magic pool with a dirty mark down the side
Thomas Cook CEO chief executive Peter Fankhauser last week met Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism said fresh tests were due to be concluded this week and the bodies will then be repatriated.
A spokesman for the hotel said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic death and all of our thoughts are with the family.
‘In addition to our full support of the authorities, the tour operator and the franchise partner we are highly engaged in running our own investigations concerning the tragedy.
‘In respect for the family and the investigations of the authorities we cannot comment on statements or pictures at the moment. As soon as more information from the authorities and from our investigation become available, we will fully respond on all your requests.’
This image shows a hazardous broken chair in the garden at the hotel in Hurghada, Egypt
Other pictures showed screws sticking out of windowsills where the wood had rotted away
One photo showed plastic debris left lying around the hotel gardens. A spokesman for the hotel said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the tragic death and all of our thoughts are with the family’
A salad served in the hotel kitchen appeared to have dried out after being left uncovered
Thomas Cook said: ‘We remain committed to doing everything we can to get to the bottom of what happened to Mr and Mrs Cooper.
‘The circumstances of their deaths remain unclear and it would be inappropriate to comment further until the Egyptian authorities complete their investigation and the autopsy findings are known.’
The deaths bear similarities to that of Alison Sonnex, 54, who died at another Egyptian hotel in April. Her husband had earlier noticed a ‘strong smell’.
And in 2011, the deaths of seven tourists – including two British pensioners – at a hotel in Thailand were linked to a banned pesticide used to treat bed bugs.
One vent in a bedroom in the Aqua Magic hotel in Hurghada was dusty and dirty
Thomas Cook said: ‘We remain committed to doing everything we can to get to the bottom of what happened to Mr and Mrs Cooper’
Source: Read Full Article