Kelly Cooper, the daughter of John and Susan Cooper, fought for several years for answers after her parents died from carbon monoxide poisoning in an Egyptian hotel, and eventually secured an inquest that ruled their deaths accidental.

It was only after the deaths of Burnley couple John and Susan Cooper that I realised I knew them both.

Susan worked in the former Thomas Cook Travel Agents in Burnley town centre and John was a window cleaner, decades ago, on the road where I grew up in Cliviger. Always the class clown he had a mop of red hair and used to pull funny faces at the window.

The circumstances of the Coopers’ deaths seems hard to comprehend, even now eight years later.

And in four decades of reporting, this story still remains in the forefront of my mind.

This lovely couple went on holiday to Egypt with their only daughter Kelly and their grandchildren, and never came home. The Coopers’ tragic deaths made headlines around the world when they both died within hours of each other in the resort of Hurghada.

Their very brave daughter fought for several years for answers for her parents’ deaths. She eventually secured an inquest in the UK that ruled both John and Susan had died from carbon monoxide poisoning after the hotel room next to theirs was sprayed with pesticide to kill bedbugs.

I received news of the Coopers’ deaths while I was at my desk one ordinary work day morning. I immediately contacted the Thomas Cook press office for confirmation. At this point we were the only media to have knowledge of this information.

Within hours Kelly herself reached out to us, and other media, for help. Stranded alone with her three young children ,she was desperate for help.

When I eventually met Kelly and interviewed her, her grief was palpable, my heart went out to her. We, the Burnley Express, followed her campaign for justice for her parents which resulted in a three day inquest. And during that time I got to know Kelly and I’m proud to say we have become friends.

I myself am the only daughter of parents who doted on me and I on them, just like Kelly, so I could identify with her tremendous sense of loss. Kelly’s tenacity and determination to get answers for her mum and dad left me in awe, it still does. She did them proud.