Thomas Cook boss to meet Egypt PM over hotel deaths

THOMAS Cook’s chief executive is to meet Egypt’s prime minister over the deaths of a British couple in the resort of Hurghada.

Peter Fankhauser flew out to meet Dr Mostafa Madbouly following claims that company staff have been prevented from entering the room where John and Susan Cooper died.

The couple, from Lancashire, died within hours of each other while on a Thomas Cook holiday at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel.

They were found dying almost a week ago by their daughter, Kelly Ormerod, who insisted they were “in perfect health” the night before. She said both her parents showed the same symptoms before their deaths.

Egyptian authorities initially claimed that Mr Cooper, 69, died from a heart attack and that his 63-year-old wife collapsed with grief. They have since ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible cause of death.

Thomas Cook admitted there was “a raised level of illness among guests” at the Red Sea resort and ordered the evacuation of 301 people.