Holidaymaker 'almost burned alive' after touching hotel room object in Egypt
Steve Ellis saw his ten day holiday in Sharm El Sheikh come to a painful end when he touched something in his hotel room. And is still suffering from the repercussions, five months later
A British holiday maker has been left traumatised after a terrifying incident in his hotel room at the Coral Sea Imperial Sensatori in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. What started as a peaceful break quickly turned into something far more dangerous - a near death experience that left him with lingering pain that still affects his day to day.
Steve Ellis, 42 was enjoying a ten night stay, when he received an electric shock from a bedside light and was "thrown on the floor".
He recounted the chilling moment when he reached out to touch the lamp, and received an intense shock that lasted around 15 seconds. But his pain wasn't just in his body. "I've got fillings in my mouth, so the electric was going up there," he said.
He was later informed by doctors he "nearly burnt alive" during the harrowing experience because of his fillings. Reflecting on the severity of the situation, Steve said: "If I wasn't able to get myself off the lamp, then I would have burnt alive.
"A child could have touched the lamp and then they wouldn't have been so lucky."
Steve detailed the moments that lead up to the shock; he had just got out of bed when he touched the lamp with his left hand. His whole body received an electric shock and his hand became stuck - when he tried to free himself with his ring hand that became stuck, too.
Moments later, the father of one, was quickly flung from the bed. Alone, all he could do was shout for help. He was later checked over by a hotel doctor, but when he spoke to the holiday rep he felt he "wasn't that bothered by the incident", reports Wales Online.
"We said we wanted to make a report and he questioned it. He turned to my partner and wanted her to lie and say that she saw the incident, when she didn't." he said. Infuriated Steve almost walked out of the meeting: "I wasn't going to lie on a document because that could come back to us."
Although he hadn't used the lamp before the incident, he later realised wires were visibly "sticking out".
"But it wasn't something you would notice without going, 'Oh, those cables are stuck out.' You wouldn't have noticed it until it happened," he said.
Since the incident in January, Steve has been left with a ring shaped burn around his mouth and has undergone blood tests and an ECG to monitor his heart's electrical activity.
The long term effects have also made everyday life painful - and work even harder.
"My hands feel like they are burning and tingling every day. My shoulder is in agony hurts when I lift things as well. I get half-way through the day and I'm in so much pain. I'm losing money because I'm having to come home early or have days off," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I was a victim of ‘Del Boy' of BBLs I am thrilled Katie Price's butt lift injector has been banned after I almost died
Bonnie Louise Cooper was left fighting for her life after her botched BBL BB HELL I was a victim of 'Del Boy' of BBLs I am thrilled Katie Price's butt lift injector has been banned after I almost died Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) READING the news that her former surgeon Rick Sawyer has been banned cosmetic procedures Bonnie Louise Cooper felt a wave of relief sweep over her body. Sawyer, who gained notoriety performing the BBLs on Katie Price, will no longer be able to practice cosmetic surgery across England and Wales for three years after being slapped with the ban in Manchester Civil Court. 6 Bonnie-Louise Cooper fought for her life after having a BBL at one of Rick Sawyer's clinics Credit: Supplied 6 The mum-of-one contracted sepsis and is lucky to be alive Credit: Supplied He was exposed after a BBC documentary showed him using a rented office block in London to perform the potentially deadly procedure that left some victims, including Bonnie, hospitalised with deadly sepsis. Bonnie, 27, was one of the women whose evidence had been used to ensure the man she had dubbed an 'evil Del Boy,' was served with an injunction. Sawyer has been banned from conducting any procedures in England and Wales until 27 May 2028 after a court heard evidence his BBL procedure had exposed women to sepsis. The injunction also prohibits him from possessing related surgical equipment or any antibiotics typically used in such treatments, unless prescribed for his own personal use. 'I can finally breathe again, Sawyer can no longer hurt any other women,' says Bonnie. 'I was left writing in agony and screaming in pain because of this procedure. 'I still need treatment for my injuries two years on. 'It's a huge relief and I know it's going to send a message to other so-called 'experts' who claim to be trained and licensed. 'These people are evil Del Boys who inflict suffering on unwitting victims. 'I'd be dead if my sister hadn't called the ambulance and gotten me into hospital. Watch as Katie Price livestreams her bum filler op for shocked fans as TWO surgeons inject her on operating table 'My little boy would have been an orphan all because of one of Sawyer's liquid butt lifts.' Beautician Bonnie, lives in Swanage, Dorset is mum to five -year-old Kash and says she decided to have a liquid BBL in November 2023. 'I thought I was doing the right and responsible thing by choosing a British clinic, I was told it was the safest option,' she says. 'I chose the one used by Katie Price on London's elite Harley Street thinking it safe.' But the night before, Bonnie admits she was stunned when she received a text with the address of the practitioner's "second clinic" in Romford, Essex. 'I was assured this was normal,' she remembers. When Bonnie arrived, the mum was told the producer was 'entirely safe'. 'It was explained I was having 250 mils of filler injected into each buttock,' she says. 6 The mum had her bum injected with filler in the hope to get a pert bottom Credit: supplied 6 Katie Price has previously promoted Sawyer 6 More than 30 people have spoken to the BBC claiming Sawyer botched their procedures 'I was given some numbing cream, but I wasn't prepared for the pain of the cannula injection. 'I always thought that giving birth was the worst pain I had ever experienced but labour was nothing compared to this.' Bonnie says the procedure was done in a beauty salon style environment and she was told to stand rather than lie down for the injections. 'I was in shock after the procedure,' she admits. 'I tried to put on a brave face, I was told I was likely to feel a bit odd because of the numbing cream. 'I asked if I should drive home and was told it was fine. 'That didn't make sense to me. I'd just had half a litre of filler injected into my bum. 'I wasn't given any after care instructions and was sent home without antibiotics and by the time I got home, I was screaming in agony. 'I couldn't get out of the car, and I started to vomit and fainted trying to get into my house. 'I rang the clinic, and I was told that they would get antibiotics for me the next day and advised me to go to bed.' Bonnie's sister Lisa-Marie Hughes,32, a stay-at-home mum, visited her that night, and had she not Bonnie might not be alive. 'She found me delirious, sweating and in absolute agony,' Bonnie recalls. Bonnie was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with sepsis. She was given morphine regularly for the next four days and intravenous antibiotics to fight the injection. 'I had an emergency MRI scan, and it revealed the procedure had caused muscle damage,' Bonnie says. 'It was so serious I was given a referral to Salisbury Plastics for dissolving procedures.' It took almost five days before Bonnie was well enough to be sent home. 'I had to take two different types of antibiotics for another month and was still on painkillers two months later,' she says. 'The antibiotics promised by the clinic never arrived and I was never told, despite asking what type of filler they used. 'The hospital tried to call the salon, but they didn't answer. It was awful. 'I felt like I'd been thrown to the wolves. I was left with no aftercare and no follow up.' 'I have huge regrets, and I still worry about on-going long-term side effects. I hope this ban allows the victims to stand tall Bonnie Cooper 'It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. No one should ever have to experience that.' The standard surgical BBL involves the patient having fat harvested from their own body and re-injection into the buttock area. A non-invasive liquid BBL uses a range of dermal fillers including hyaluronic acid which is injected into each buttock using a large cannula to add volume. The liquid BBL is promoted as relatively pain free because the filler contains lidocaine, a local anaesthetic. While it seemed like the perfect option, two years on Bonnie is still suffering from her botched BBl. 'Two years on and I am still having physiotherapy on one of my legs to treat nerve damage two times a week,' she says. 'I have a shooting nerve in one leg. It's a constant reminder of what I suffered at the hands of Sawyer's clinics.' Bonnie is one of more than forty women used as evidence for the case for the self-styled 'celeb backed' expert to be banned. As part of the ban the Manchester Civil Court attached a power of arrest to the order, meaning Sawyer could be arrested without a warrant if he is found to be in breach of the terms. The court, together with Trafford Council, heard evidence which included a BBC documentary showing him working out of a rented office performing the procedures. The lawyer James Parry, who raised the case, said the injuries suffered were akin to that of a 'serious knife crime'. Sawyer, who is described as a beauty consultant, was found to be administering injections containing up to 1,000ml of dermal filler into clients' buttocks, without having a single healthcare qualification. What are Brazilian Butt Lifts and why are they so popular? Buttock enlargement surgery - known as a Brazilian butt-lift (BBL) - is used to make the bum look bigger, rounded and lifted. Surgeons transfer fat, inject filler or insert silicone-filled implants. It is the fastest growing cosmetic procedure but also one of the most dangerous, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). Many patients are travelling to the likes of Turkey or seeking out unregistered surgeons in the UK and are not given full information on the risks. BBLs carry the highest risk of all cosmetic surgeries - with more than one death occurring per 4,000 procedures. Due to celebrities undergoing such ops, many women are hoping to emulate their looks. Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Anu Sayal-Bennett, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, told the BBC: "Despite there being so much about body positivity, there are pressures for women - and men too - to look a certain way." Many people travel abroad for the procedure because it is cheaper and advertising is "terribly seductive", combined with the idea of a beach holiday, added Dr Sayal-Bennett. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has welcomed the ban. Institute President, Mark Elliot, slamming the shocking and dangerous practices Mr Sawyer was found to have committed saying 'the regulatory framework has failed to keep pace with the increase in the prevalence of cosmetic procedures in recent years, fuelled by social media,' The Sawyer ban comes six weeks after socially 'irresponsible' adverts for liquid Brazilian butt lifts have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain. The Authority found a slew of promotional posts on Facebook and Instagram broke the rules - and featured time-limited discounts that could rush consumers into making decisions. It banned six BBL providers from using their ads in the current form again, finding they could pressure women into booking cosmetic surgery "without taking sufficient time to consider the consequences". According to the watchdog 'Undertaking cosmetic surgery should have been portrayed as a decision that required time and thought from consumers before proceeding, because of the risks involved. Some of the adverts featured before-and-after images of Brazilian butt lifts, with captions such as: "Get the curves and contours you've always wanted with our safe and effective body filler treatments.' Others urged potential customers to take advantage of an exclusive opportunity to get that perfect peachy look" - and warned "limited space" was available on certain days. Bonnie says the ban should be just the first step in a continued crackdown on so-called back street beauty consultants. 'I hope this ban allows the victims to stand tall,' she adds. Bonnie, who has campaigned to raise awareness about the dangers of this style for BBL, is now calling for new laws making it illegal to perform procedures like this in Britain. 'I fell victim to Sawyer in 2023, and it's taken almost two years for action,' she says. 'There needs to be a fast-tracked approach or new laws to regulate the industry. 'This ban is a start.'
South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
UK women reveal their insecurities in Sudocrem study
A survey of 2,000 men and women discovered many of us worry about how we look, laid bare, with that especially true of those of us with skin conditions. Over half of the women surveyed (51%) admitted to avoiding mirrors altogether during a flare-up. More than a third of British women feel uncomfortable getting naked, and as many as 36% worry about being undressed in front of a romantic partner. The finding came in Sudocrem's Skin Study, which has revealed the depth of our insecurities. Beyond the bedroom, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed admit to feeling self-conscious because of their skin condition, while almost half say they feel stressed, and more than 4 in 10 feel anxious about their skin. Ava Godden, 21, a childcare practitioner from Swansea, Wales, said: 'I've had eczema since I was two years old. I do feel less confident when my skin is flared. I don't want to say ugly but like, not myself.' A quarter (25%) of UK women report regular eczema flare-ups with 39% regularly suffering from acne or acne spots, with key milestones such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause being one of the contributing factors. Self-esteem issues around our skin are affecting our love and leisure lives too. More than 1 in four women (28%) avoid romantic dates when their skin condition flares up and 23% say they avoid shopping too. As many as 32% avoid nights out due to skin flare-ups and 24% skipping planned beach sessions. Inspired by the millions of people in the UK who live with problematic skin - including celebrities like Catherine, Princess of Wales, Victoria Beckham, and Kendall Jenner - Sudocrem has launched a new national campaign, Uncovered. It aims to break the stigma we feel around being unhappy with our skin, challenge beauty norms, and celebrate the millions of women who live every day with skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Talking about how she has learned to gain body confidence, Ava added: 'It takes a lot of self-confidence to get out like and go out into the world. When I look at myself in the mirror and I say you are beautiful today, that's what makes me feel the most confident. 'Recently I haven't let my eczema stop me from seeing my friends and being out. Eczema is a blessing, not a curse, and it showed me how to be confident no matter what I look like.' Sudocrem is calling on women to share their stories using #UncoveredBySudocrem, to help change the narrative around skin - from something to conceal, to something to celebrate. The campaign features the stories of 10 people living with skin conditions ranging from acne to eczema whose beautiful, unfiltered images will feature in a first-of-a-kind exhibition captured by photographer Sophie Harris-Taylor. Bethany Innes, as Sudocrem spokesperson, said: 'Skin conditions aren't just skin deep. We found women are disproportionately impacted emotionally and socially by their skin – they're cancelling plans, skipping dates, and dodging the mirror because of the toll it takes on their confidence. Uncovered is about changing that.' To uncover the emotive stories which inspired the campaign, visit the Uncovered hub at or follow the hashtag #UncoveredbySudocrem on social media. The immersive exhibition highlights the emotional impact of skin conditions like acne and eczema and showcases such powerful portraits and personal testimonials. Bethany continued: 'This campaign is about empowerment, not embarrassment. We want people to know they are not alone - and that real skin is nothing to be ashamed of.' Sudocrem hope the campaign offers people an opportunity to better understand how these conditions affect confidence, relationships, and daily life, as well as providing a platform for individuals to share their experiences and support each other.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I have invisible chronic condition that stole my balance and way of life'
Steve's life changed after he was diagnosed with a rare balance disorder - Bilateral Vestibular Failure. He was forced to give up his long-standing job and move out of London. However, he has since found hope and confidence again through Jorvik Tricycles. Balance disorders affect more than 1.8 million people - yet many have never heard of them. The 'invisible' condition remains largely unrecognised, both in society and by healthcare providers. For 54-year-old Steve Watkins, a rare disorder changed everything. Once a professional tennis coach and lifelong fitness enthusiast, Steve suddenly found his independence ripped away when his body began to fail him. 'Having been a keen cyclist and my job dependent on my active lifestyle, this change was a complete shock to me and my family both physically and mentally,' he said. It began with short dizzy spells. But within a few years, even walking in a straight line became impossible. 'From what started as short dizzy spells, within a few years I was unable to even walk in a straight line as I went from being an active 50-year-old to being unable to travel anywhere without assistance,' he added. Desperate for answers, Steve underwent tests in January 2020 and was told to begin daily exercises. But nothing seemed to help. Doctors eventually discovered that his vestibular system, which helps the body maintain balance, had dropped to zero out of 100 in both ears. It was then that Steve was diagnosed with Bilateral Vestibular Failure, a chronic and incurable condition that damages the inner ear and disrupts spatial orientation, movement, and balance. The vestibular system is a sensory system crucial for keeping us steady. It helps the brain detect head movements and maintain posture, and when it fails, the impact can be life-altering. Sport wasn't just a part of Steve's career; it was part of who he was, and the idea of losing that part of his identity hit him hard. After nearly four years of battling worsening symptoms and with no known cure, Steve was told he'd have to learn to manage the condition for life. 'When my doctors first told me that staying active was crucial, I had no idea how I'd manage. Struggling to walk in a straight line,' Steve said. Told that physical activity was key to managing the condition, but barely able to stay upright, Steve had to find another way. He was forced to quit his job, and he and his wife relocated from London to Worksop, Yorkshire, to be closer to family and adjust to their new normal. Then came a turning point. In a bid to regain some independence, Steve visited York-based Jorvik Tricycles to test ride an electric tricycle - and something clicked. His wife recalls it was the 'first time he's smiled like that in years.' Discovering Jorvik electric tricycles has been life-changing. Fitness and exercise were my life; losing the ability to be independent and work was devastating,' Steve said. 'This tricycle has given me my freedom back and has been incredible to me mentally to get back outside and boost my wellbeing.' What once seemed impossible has now become part of his routine. Steve regularly cycles along Chesterfield Canal, Clumber Park and the Monsal Trail near Worksop, and is now an active member of a local support group for people living with balance disorders. James Walker, Founder of Jorvik Tricycles, said: 'When we first met Steve, we were touched by his story and determined to help him. We're thrilled to hear that since discovering his Jorvik Tricycle, Steve has regained his freedom and independence and is now regularly exploring and enjoying the outdoors once again.' From feeling like his loss of balance stole his life, Steve has pedalled his way back to independence. 'For those struggling with balance and coordination on a traditional bike, Jorvik Tricycles can offer the chance to maintain freedom and movement without the worry. To date, the business has created tricycles for thousands of customers with mobility worries and additional needs,' James added.
