A British couple who fell ill while staying at an Egyptian hotel died from carbon monoxide poisoning, an inquest has heard. John Cooper, 69, and his wife Susan, 63, from Burnley, Lancashire, died on 21 August 2018 at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada.
Home Office pathologist Dr Charles Wilson gave the cause of death for Mr Cooper as carbon monoxide toxicity and heart disease, and carbon monoxide toxicity for Mrs Cooper. Toxicology expert Professor Robert Chilcott confirmed the presence of carbon monoxide in blood samples, indicating severe exposure, though he could not determine exact levels.
The inquest heard that a German tourist reported a bed bug infestation in the room next to the Coopers, which was treated with a pesticide called Lambda at lunchtime. The two rooms shared an adjoining door, which remained locked. Professor Chilcott noted that in less developed countries, Lambda is sometimes diluted with dichloromethane, a substance that can cause the body to metabolise carbon monoxide.
He added that a 10-hour exposure would be sufficient to cause poisoning, and that spraying the pesticide in the hotel room would rapidly exceed UK occupational exposure limits. Dr Nick Gent, a former senior medical adviser to Public Health England, agreed on the presence of carbon monoxide but could not identify the source.
The couple's daughter, Kelly Ormerod, described her parents as fit and healthy. She found them seriously ill in their room after they missed breakfast. Mr Cooper was pronounced dead on the hotel room floor, and his wife died in hospital hours later.
