Thomas Cook evacuates holidaymakers from Egypt resort after British couple die
Concerns about the raised level of illness among guests at the Red Sea coast hotel prompt tour operator to move them elsewhere
Holiday firm Thomas Cook has announced it is to evacuate all its holidaymakers from an Egyptian resort hotel after the mysterious deaths of a British couple on Tuesday.
The travel company took the decision to move the rest of the 300 guests staying at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, on the Red Sea coast, after concerns about a “raised level of illness” at the resort.
In a statement, Thomas Cook called it a “precautionary measure”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“While we understand this is upsetting for those on holiday, we believe this is the right thing to do,” the company said.
Susan Cooper, 64, and her husband John Cooper, 69, who are from Burnley in Lancashire, died in Hurghada on Tuesday. They are believed to have been on holiday with their daughter, Kelly Ormerod, and their grandchildren.
Ahmed Abdullah, the province’s governor, told the Daily Telegraph that the couple died of natural causes.
“The husband fell sick and was taken to hospital, where he died. About three hours later his wife had a shock and died,” he said.
But Thomas Cook says the circumstances of their deaths are “still unclear”.
The implication is that John Cooper may have succumbed to a “virulent illness”, says The Independent, adding that such a mass evacuation is “highly unusual for a tour operator”.
Thomas Cook says the hotel was last audited late last month and received an overall score of 96%.
“We will be contacting those customers due to travel to the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada in the next four weeks to offer alternative holiday options,” the tour operator announced.
The Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in Hurghada, Egypt, and we are in contact with the local tour operator.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How will Wall Street react to the Trump-Powell showdown?
Today's Big Question 'Market turmoil' seems likely
By Joel Mathis, The Week US
-
Google ruled a monopoly over ad tech dominance
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the ruling as a 'landmark victory in the ongoing fight to stop Google from monopolizing the digital public square'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador's CECOT prison becomes Washington's go-to destination
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Republicans and Democrats alike are clamoring for access to the Trump administration's extrajudicial deportation camp — for very different reasons
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Arab leaders embrace Egypt's Gaza rebuilding plan
Speed Read The $53 billion proposal would rebuild Gaza without displacing Palestinian residents
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK