E-coli factor in UK pair's death in Cairo

Egypt authorities say e-coli was factor in the deaths of a British husband and wife who died in a Cairo hotel within hours of each other last month.

Egypt's public prosecutor says that e-coli bacteria were a factor in the deaths of two British tourists in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada last month.

The prosecutor said on Wednesday John Cooper, 69, was suffering from health problems but that e-coli caused gastroenteritis and heart failure, which killed him. Cooper's wife Susan, 63, was also likely to have been affected by e-coli and died of Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a blood ailment.

It gave the details in a statement of an official medical report after an investigation into their deaths.

Thomas Cook, which the couple was travelling with, moved 300 customers from the hotel they were staying in, the Steigenberger Aqua Magic, following the deaths on August 21.

The British tour operator said it had taken note of the prosecutor's announcement. "We have not yet seen the full report and we will need time for our own experts to review it," it said in a statement.

Thomas Cook said earlier this month that it had found a high level of e-coli and staphylococcus bacteria at the hotel the couple were staying in.

Local Egyptian officials initially said the Coopers both died of heart attacks, but the public prosecutor ordered an investigation.