PESTAWARE
The practice of mixing pesticides – which resulted in the death of a Burnley couple who were on holiday in Egypt – is not legal in the UK, says British Pest Control Association (BPCA).
John and Susan Cooper died while on holiday in Egypt, after the hotel room next to theirs was fumigated for bed bugs, an inquest found.
The inquest heard that a pesticide containing lambda-cyhalothrin was diluted with dichloromethane, which produced carbon monoxide fumes.
BPCA Chief Executive, Ian Andrew, said: “Our thoughts are with Mr and Mrs Cooper’s family and friends who have had to wait five years for the conclusion of the inquest and then relive a truly devastating experience.
“The use of pesticides in the UK has stringent rules and it is not legal to mix pesticides in this way.
“It is absolutely vital that anyone considering the use of any pesticide does so strictly within UK law and exactly in accordance with the product instructions.
“We always recommend getting help from a pest professional with experience, qualifications and insurance. Professionals will also have access to products not available to the public and the knowledge of how to use them effectively and safely."
Mr and Mrs Cooper were on holiday with their daughter, Kelly Ormerod, three grandchildren and family friends at the Steigenberger Aqua Magic Hotel in Hurghada when they died on 21 August 2018.
A statement from German tourist, Dominik Bibi, was read out at the inquest. Mr Bibi had reported a bed bug infestation in the room next door to the Coopers and later saw three men, two in hotel uniform and one carrying canisters of pesticide, enter the room.
They emerged between five and 10 minutes later and sealed the door with masking tape.
Mr Bibi said: "I would not say the job was very professional."
That night, Mr Cooper took his 12-year-old granddaughter, who was sleeping on a single bed in their room, to her mother after she began to feel unwell.
The next morning, when the Coopers failed to appear at breakfast, Kelly went to their hotel room and found both her parents were seriously ill.
Her father, 69, was declared dead in the room. Her mother, 63, died later in hospital.
An adjoining door between the two hotel rooms was locked throughout, the inquest heard.
Senior coroner for Lancashire, Dr James Adley, ruled the deaths had been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of inhaling the vapour from spraying the pesticide which contained dichloromethane.
GOT A PEST PROBLEM?
If you need support with a pest issue, the safest thing to do is always call a professional pest controller. Search our website for a BPCA member in your area.
bpca.org.uk/find