Brit couple who died suddenly in Egypt complained of ‘musty smell’ in room hours before their deaths, inquest hears

A BRITISH couple who collapsed at an Egyptian hotel had complained of a "musty smell" the day before they died, an inquest heard today.

John Cooper, 69, and Susan Cooper, 63, were so concerned about the stench they took their granddaughter out of their hotel room.

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Today's hearing came a day after the couples' post mortems "proved inconclusive” - despite their deaths earlier being linked to E.coli bacteria.

The tragic pair were on the “holiday of a lifetime” in the Red Sea hotspot of Hurghada, when they both died within a few hours of each other.

The court heard they had been staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic hotel and had eaten at the hotel buffet at around 8pm the night before they were taken ill.

They had returned to their room at 1.30am to find a "musty" smell, which led them to complain and remove their granddaughter from their room, the hearing was told.

The following morning, their family became concerned when they had not emerged from their room by 11am and went to check on them.

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The Coopers were then found slumped in their room at the hotel in the popular resort on the morning of August 21.

John was already dead and his wife was dying nearby.

Their daughter Kelly Ormerod was earlier also taken ill but survived after leaving the room and going for a short walk.

A report from Egyptian authorities says the deaths were caused by E.coli bacteria poisoning.

However, British Coroner Dr James Adeley said another report suggests it's unlikely the bacteria would have had such a dramatic outcome.

The couple had eaten at the hotel's buffet the night before they fell ill on their Thomas Cook break, today's inquest heard.

At first officials said they had died of natural causes, saying John had suffered a heart attack while his wife had died of “grief”.

Here are some of the theories surrounding the mysterious deaths of the Coopers:

• They contracted E.coli after eating at the hotel buffet. A prosecutor claimed the deadly bacteria was a factor in their deaths.
• The couple were 'gassed to death' after sleeping next to a room that had been sprayed with a 'farm-strength’ bug killer.
• At first officials said they had died of natural causes, saying John had suffered a heart attack while his wife had died of “grief”.
• Kelly Ormerod told local officials she initially believed her parents may have been killed by a faulty air conditioning unit.
• Other guests staying at the luxury hotel speculated the couple may have died of carbon monoxide poisoning
• The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism insisted the deaths were down to "respiratory failure" and were “not criminal”.

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The authorities in Egypt then said their forensic examinations showed the deaths were linked to deadly E.coli.

However, Kelly. 40, told local officials she initially believed her parents may have been killed by a faulty air conditioning unit.

Friends of the Burnley couple also speculated they were killed by high levels of carbon monoxide in their room.

Subsequent post-mortem examinations carried out in the UK have not been able to ascertain the cause of death.

More tests are being carried out, but the results could take some time to come back.

Solicitors acting for the family yesterday reported post mortems carried out on behalf on UK authorities had proven "inconclusive".

Thomas Cook’s own tests identified a high level of E coli at the hotel, which would explain a "raised level of illness reported among guests”.

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

And a public prosecutor in Egypt confirmed the lethal bacteria was a factor in the tragic couple's demise.

Nabil Sadek said forensic tests showed John suffered acute intestinal dysentery caused by E.coli.

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"At the moment now I have got to go home and prepare for a funeral tomorrow.

"If you would kindly leave me be, leave my family be, and let us grieve and get the grieving process on the way, and I am prepared to speak at a later date."

Dr Adeley said he would be requesting all relevant reports and documentation from a long list of public bodies in Egypt and from Thomas Cook.

But he warned that requests to foreign countries "can take months, even years".

The hearing was adjourned to a later date as the investigation continues.