STATEMENT FROM EGYPT’S MINISTER OF TOURISM, DR RANIA AL-MASHAT, FOLLOWING MEETING IN CAIRO WITH THOMAS COOK CEO ABOUT TRAGIC DEATHS OF JOHN AND SUSAN COOPER

The Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly

 
Cairo - Eco - Nariman Yanny : The Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly, and I have met with Peter Fankhauser, the CEO of Thomas Cook, to discuss the tragicdeaths last week of John and Susan Cooper in Hurghada . The Prime Minister and I gave Mr Fankhauser our absolute assurances that the Egyptian authorities will leave no stone unturned in determining the actual cause of death ...

Similarly, the same reassurances have been given to Mr and Mrs Cooper’s daughter Kelly Ormerod and the British Ambassador in Egypt, John Casson. The Prime Minister re-affirmed the Egyptian government’s total transparency in its undertakings to Mr Fankhauser. Detailed autopsies on the two bodies are currently being conducted by a team of forensic pathologists. It would be inappropriate to attach a specific date to this but I anticipate this will be concluded during next week. When the pathologists have completed their detailed forensic analysis our priority will be, of course, to then contact the Cooper family in England to explain the findings as they, more than anyone, need to know what took away John and Susan. Their bodies will then be re-patriated next week with the Cooper family in England. Separately, a working group led by Nabil Sadeq, Egypt’s Attorney General and highestranking legal figure in our country, is examining in forensic detail all hygiene aspects of the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada. 

This investigation will be robust, thorough and independent. The working group will test food, water and air conditioning and again, the results will be made public. Mr Sadeq has said previously that a technical inspection of Mr and Mrs Cooper’s hotel bedroom determined there were no toxic or harmful gas emissions or leaks. All the details of the investigation will be shared in full transparency and available to all for scrutiny.

 Again, it is anticipated that this work will be concluded during next week. It is crucial for everyone involved in the tragic passing away of John and Susan, none more so than the grieving Cooper family, that we get to the bottom of the matter and determine the truth based on evidence.