A British infant has tragically died, and two other children have suffered severe health complications after contracting a gastric illness while staying at a five-star resort in Egypt. One-year-old Ariella Mann developed E. coli following her return from the Jaz Makadi Aquaviva hotel and subsequently developed Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney condition that primarily affects young children. This condition ultimately led to her death.
Families Seek Answers
Ariella's parents are now seeking answers about how their daughter contracted the illness at the resort. They are working with specialist injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, alongside two other affected families. Two-year-old Chloe Crook from Kent and six-year-old Arthur Broughton from Derbyshire are still recovering after contracting HUS at the same hotel.
According to their lawyers, all three children first became ill during their stay at the all-inclusive Jaz Makadi Aquaviva in Hurghada between July 2024 and January 2026. The families booked their trips through TUI UK Limited, one of several holiday operators—including Thomas Cook and easyJet Holidays—that sell packages to this hotel.
Ariella's Story
Ariella traveled to Egypt on December 21, 2025, with her mother, Jade Oaks (36), father Lee Mann (37), and six-year-old sister Summer. The two-week all-inclusive holiday cost the family £6,000. During the second week, Ariella fell ill with symptoms including vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and fever. She was treated at the resort's medical clinic multiple times, but her condition worsened. The family returned to the UK on January 5, 2026, and TUI was informed of her illness. The next day, her parents called 999 and took her to the hospital. On January 7, she was transferred to a specialist children's hospital and placed in a medically induced coma. She passed away three days later.
Mrs. Oaks described her daughter's death as a 'horrific time' for the family. Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'We felt completely helpless watching Ariella suffer. I can't begin to describe the pain of losing a child. We deserve answers about what happened to our daughter.'
Arthur's Ordeal
Arthur Broughton's parents, Sharon Turner and Daniel Broughton, are also seeking answers after their son fell ill in August 2024 during a £2,400 family holiday. The family, from Glossop in Derbyshire, stayed at the resort for one week. After the first few days, Arthur developed abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea. On September 7, the family returned to the UK, where Arthur was rushed to hospital after coughing up blood. Doctors confirmed E. coli on September 11, which led to HUS. He was placed on dialysis and, after being admitted to intensive care, was put on a ventilator. He was discharged after three weeks but still suffers from kidney problems and takes daily medications. HUS also severely affected his brain, causing slurred speech and requiring him to relearn to walk. Mrs. Turner called Arthur's illness 'every mum's worst nightmare' and recalled him asking if he was going to die.
Chloe's Experience
Chloe Crooks, from Sittingbourne in Kent, experienced severe gastric symptoms after staying at the hotel, including vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fatigue. Her condition worsened, and she was taken to a hospital in Egypt on July 6, 2024, where she experienced temporary sight loss, lost the ability to speak, and suffered seizures. Tests revealed her kidneys had started to fail, and she was diagnosed with HUS caused by E. coli. She was airlifted to a hospital in London, where she was placed in a coma for four days. She subsequently developed pneumonia and a blood clot in her neck and arm. She was discharged on July 31 but still requires follow-up appointments with a nephrology team. The hotel offered her family a full refund, which they declined.
Legal and Investigative Response
The lawyer representing the three families stated that it is a 'cause for major concern' that each incident occurred at the same hotel. Their focus is on helping provide 'the answers they deserve' while offering specialist support. TUI has commissioned an independent investigation at the hotel, which included on-site assessments of hygiene and food safety, but no traces of E. coli were found. The company maintains ongoing cooperation with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), operating within official guidance on travel advice, health, and safety.
In a statement, TUI said: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Ariella, and our thoughts remain with her parents and family at this incredibly difficult time. This is a devastating loss, and we recognise the profound impact this tragedy has had on them. We are also very sorry to hear about the serious illnesses experienced by Arthur and Chloe, and the effect this has had on them and their families. We appreciate how frightening such experiences can be. Reports of illness, particularly involving children, are taken extremely seriously. As soon as we were advised of the illness by Ariella's family on their return home, we took immediate action by instructing an independent health and safety investigation. We continue to monitor any reports of illness in line with our routine process alongside the hotel, local authorities and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and full cooperation is being given to all relevant investigations. It would not be appropriate to speculate on cause while these processes are ongoing. Customers with health concerns during or following their holiday are encouraged to seek medical advice and to contact our customer support team so that assistance can be offered.'
The Daily Mail has contacted JAZ Hotel Group for comment.
