Daughter of well known Burnley couple vows to fight for answers two years after their deaths in Egypt

The only daughter of a well known Burnley couple, whose sudden death on a dream holiday in Egypt sent shockwaves around the world, still has no clear answers to why her parents died,  two years on.
The daughter of John and Susan Cooper, who died on holiday in Egypt two years ago, is still fighting for answers as to the cause of their deaths.The daughter of John and Susan Cooper, who died on holiday in Egypt two years ago, is still fighting for answers as to the cause of their deaths.
The daughter of John and Susan Cooper, who died on holiday in Egypt two years ago, is still fighting for answers as to the cause of their deaths.

But Kelly Ormerod has vowed she will continue to fight for the truth to find out what happened to her parents, John and Susan Cooper.

Kelly said: "It is impossible to move on until we know. We need to know what happened and find out who is responsible.”

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Kelly was on a Thomas Cook holiday in Egypt with her parents when tragedy struck on August 21st, 2018.

Kelly pictured with her mum SusanKelly pictured with her mum Susan
Kelly pictured with her mum Susan

She found them both close to collapse in their room at the five-star Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada. Doctors were called but it was too late for John who was 69. Susan, who was 63, died in the ambulance on the way to hospital.

Egyptian authorities said that the tragic deaths were due to natural causes linked to an E.coli infection.

But at a preliminary inquest in the UK a report presented by expert Dr Nick Gent, a senior medical advisor at Public Health England, suggested “infectious biological agent or toxic chemicals” were to blame.

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The hearing was opened and adjourned in Preston in May, 2019, and a fuller hearing was expected to take place later in the year. The coroner, Dr James Adeley, said the Foreign and Commonwealth Office approached the Egyptian authorities on 25 separate occasions before a report was released in February but it did not include the full post mortem results from Egypt or the examination of the hotel room.

The coroner is now writing directly to the Egyptian Prosecutor General to insist again the relevant information is sent over and a final answer can be given to the family.

Thomas Cook went out of business in September last year, and Kelly, who was holidaying with her parents and her three children, says she feels like she has been left 'in limbo' since then.

Kelly said: "There were samples taken the day mum and dad died and the rooms were cleaned and swabs were taken.

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" I think Thomas Cook could have maybe got the answers a bit quicker but obviously with them going into administration there's nowhere to go with them so the Egyptians are the only people we can actually get the true facts from."

The receiver for Thomas Cook says the case is currently before the coroner and they will provide assistance when requested.

The Thomas Cook Compensation Bill which would: 'enable the government to administer a capped compensation scheme to support customers of Thomas Cook facing the most serious hardship as a result of life-changing injuries, illness or loss of life for which the company would have been liable' is due to get its second reading.

But Kelly says she wants the truth and answers to what happened, not a pay out.

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Kelly has moved into her parents’ home in Burnley and she and her children have created a beautiful woodland memorial on the edge of Towneley Park in honour of her parents. Many well wishers have left their own messages of comfort and support there.

Married in 1975, the couple met at the former Hop nightclub in Burnley where John worked as a doorman.

The son of a miner, John attended St Mary's Primary and the former Towneley High schools.

He also worked as a window cleaner before going into the building trade, launching his own business, Safe As Houses, which specialised in building properties and extensions.

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A keen diver, John, who was affectionately known as "Cooperman" also enjoyed pot holing and clay pigeon shooting and he shot for the England team.

A freemason, he was a member of the Abbey lodge at Whalley. Nelson born Susan was a former pupil at Walverden Infants, St John's Primary and the former Mansfield High schools.

Susan, had worked for Thomas Cook travel agents in Burnley town centre for many years but before that she worked for Holt's Shoes in Nelson, ATS Tyres and was the Estee Lauder representative in Debenhams, Blackburn.

Susan's father, Alan Gradwell, also owned a bookmakers and a butcher's stall on Nelson Market for many years.

Her brother Stuart now runs the butcher's stall on Clitheroe Market.

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