John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, were healthy before they passed away at a five-star all-inclusive resort in Hurghada five years ago
Overnight the couple suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea
A British couple who suddenly died while on holiday in Egypt were sleeping next to a room which had been fumigated for bed bugs, an inquest heard.
John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, were healthy before they passed away at a five-star all-inclusive resort in Hurghada five years ago.
Overnight the couple suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea followed by heart failure.
John, who was a builder, died in his hotel room at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic hotel on August 21, 2018.
His wife, who worked at a Thomas Cook travel agent, died in hospital hours later.
An inquest into their deaths - which was resumed on Tuesday by Coroner Dr James Adeley - heard that other holidaymakers had "found bed bugs" in the next room.
The room was said to have been "treated with a pest control named Lambda, otherwise known as Lambada".
The court heard a statement from German tourist Dominik Bibi, whose mother-in-law was due to stay in the neighbouring room.
Bibi said: "On entering, we immediately noticed a funny smell, like mould or damp. When we checked the bed, there were a lot of bed bugs."
After complaining, his mother-in-law was moved to another room further up the corridor and Bibi saw three employees entering the infested room with one holding "a two to three litre canister, like the type you can buy in a supermarket".
He said: "They were in the room for approximately five to 10 minutes. Afterwards I saw them (put) tape all around the door.
"I'd not say the job the three men did could be described as very professional."
The Coopers used their air conditioning for the first time the evening before they died – just hours after the fumigation.
Their granddaughter Molly Omerod, who was 12 at the time but now 18, was staying in their room and noticed a strange smell.
She said: "It was a pasta-yeasty smell. Grandma sprayed perfume then we got ready and went out for tea."They returned to the bedroom before midnight followed by John after a last gin and tonic with family friend Barry Clayton.
Molly said she began to feel ill and moved rooms to stay with her mother and two younger siblings.
Susan failed to meet a family friend for their 6.30am ritual of reserving sun loungers before breakfast.
She and her husband were found by their daughter, Kelly Omerod at around 10.30am.
Her father answered the door but was "bumbling and bouncing… as though he'd had 10 pints of beer" while her mother was on the bed "groaning".
Omerod said she noticed an "acetate" smell in the room before two doctors turned up who "didn't have a clue what they were doing", she said.
John died in the room, while Susan was taken to the hotel clinic and later died in hospital in Hurghada.
The court heard Molly saw a box containing an air conditioning unit being carried by hotel staff following her grandparents' deaths.
The inquest is due to be concluded today.
