Thomas Cook has removed all its customers from the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada, Egypt, “as a precautionary measure” following the deaths of a British couple. 

News of the deaths of John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, Lancashire, emerged on Thursday. A senior Egyptian official told The Telegraph the couple, who had been travelling with their daughter, died after falling ill.

Ahmed Abdullah said: “We found in their room a case of pills that showed both of them suffered chronic illnesses. 

“The husband fell sick and was taken to hospital where he died. About three hours later his wife had a shock and died.” 

The tour operator said on Thursday evening it had received further reports of a raised level of illness among guests, and had “taken a decision to remove all our customers from this hotel”. 

Details of their deaths have not been released and an investigation is underway.

The company said it last audited the hotel in late July, and said it had received an overall score of 96%.

A statement from Thomas Cook UK chief Ingo Burmester said: “We are deeply saddened by the deaths of two of our customers while on holiday in in Hurghada in Egypt, one of whom was a loyal and long-serving member of our Thomas Cook family.

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British couple who died in Hurghada, Egypt and we are in contact with the local tour operator.”

Thomas Cook said customers who choose to leave the hotel will be able to fly back to the UK tomorrow. The statement added: “We will be offering customers alternative hotels within Hurghada, as well as giving them the option to return home.

“We continue to work closely with the hotel and are supporting the authorities with their investigations.

“We will be contacting those customers due to travel to the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada in the next four weeks to offer alternative holiday options.”