News
Couple died on holiday after room next door fumigated for bed bugs
An inquest into their deaths took place this week
A couple died while on holiday in Egypt after the room next door to theirs was fumigated with chemicals to kill bed bugs.
John Cooper, 69, and Susan Cooper, 63, died on August 21st, 2018 at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada, where they had been staying.
An inquest into their deaths, which has taken place this week, heard an expert report of how the couple may have died after the possibility being exposed to ‘infectious biological agent or toxic chemicals’.
The inquest is took place at Blackburn Coroner’s court where it heard a German tourist give a statement to say he reported a bed bug infestation while staying in the room next to Mr and Mrs Cooper’s, who were from Burnley.
Dominik Bibi’s room was treated with the pesticide called Lambda at around lunchtime, on August 20th, 2018 as he saw staff using masking tape around the door to seal the room.
Mr Bibi added: “I would not say the job was very professional.” The two rooms had an adjoining door which was locked.
The couple fell ill in the early hours of the morning, and sadly died the following day.
The daughter of Mr and Mrs Cooper, Kelly Ormerod, described her parents as being fit and healthy for their age and had been enjoying a ‘brilliant’ family holiday with her, their three grandchildren and friends when they died.
Ms Ormerod, a civil servant with HMRC, said her dad who was a builder and mum who worked as a bureau de change cashier, enjoyed several holidays a year.
According to Ms Ormerod, her mum had been to the same hotel in April earlier that year and described it as being ‘fabulous’ so they decided to go back with the whole family.
On the evening of August 20th, the family and friends went to the hotel bar and restaurant before retiring to their rooms for the night.
Ms Ormerod’s daughter, Molly, who was 12 at the time, was staying in the single bed in her grandparents’ room, which she said had a ‘yeasty smell’.
Then at around 1am Mr Cooper rang to say Molly was feeling unwell and took her up to her mum’s room on another floor.
The next morning, the Coopers failed to show up for breakfast so Ms Ormerod went to their ground floor room to discover they were both seriously ill.
She said her dad came to the door retching saying, ‘I really don’t feel very well’.
She said her mother was in bed ‘groaning’ and had vomit in her hair. Ms Ormerod also noticed a strange, ‘heavy’ smell.
Two doctors were called to the room but Ms Ormerod said they were in ‘panic mode’ as her parents quickly deteriorated and her father struggled to breathe.
In tears, Ms Ormerod said: “His eyes, kind of …a glazed, staring look.”
The inquest heard how CPR was attempted on Mr Cooper but that he was declared dead on the hotel room floor while Mrs Cooper was rushed to the hotel clinic, where she became ‘super agitated’ and delirious.
Mrs Cooper was taken to hospital by ambulance but was declared dead at 4.12pm. Both Mr and Mrs Cooper’s bodies were returned to the UK in sealed, zinc-lined coffins, the inquest heard.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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