Thomas Cook had already been sued for Egypt resort

Thomas Cook was successfully sued last month after a family suffered gastric illness while staying at the Egyptian hotel where a British couple died, according to a law firm.

The family of four from South Wales accused the tour operator of failing to make sure food and drink at the hotel, in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, was “safe for human consumption” and permitted food to be “reserved or re-used on more than one occasion”.

Manchester law firm JMW Solicitors, who acted for the family, said Newport County Court ordered Thomas Cook to pay £26,000 in compensation and costs. The case was revealed with the bodies of deceased British pair John and Susan Cooper to be repatriated next week, the country’s minister of tourism said.

Dr Mostafa Madbouly said “detailed autopsies” are being carried out. The couple died at the same resort on 21 August.