1-Year-Old Girl Dies After Contracting Suspected E. Coli on Family Vacation: ‘Worst Time of Our Lives’

Ariella Mann died earlier this year after she developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare kidney condition usually caused by the bacterium

NEED TO KNOW

• A 1-year-old British girl died after she contracted suspected E. coli while on a family vacation in Hurghada, Egypt, lawyers representing her family said in a press release obtained by PEOPLE
• Ariella Mann developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare kidney condition that’s most often caused by E. coli infections
• Two more young children who stayed in the same hotel are now recovering from the same condition

A 1-year-old British girl died after she contracted suspected E. coli on vacation in Egypt, according to lawyers representing her family.

Ariella Mann became ill during a family trip to Jaz Makadi Aquaviva, a 5-star hotel in Hurghada, before her condition worsened back in the U.K., specialist injury law firm Irwin Mitchell said in a press release obtained by PEOPLE. Hurghada is a coastal city popular with tourists.

The vacation had been booked through TUI U.K. Limited.

After Ariella became sick with suspected E. coli, medics confirmed that she had developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a rare kidney condition, which led to her death, per the release.

According to the Mayo Clinic, HUS can occur when small blood vessels become damaged and inflamed, causing clots that can damage the kidneys and other organs.

"Hemolytic uremic syndrome can lead to kidney failure, which can be life-threatening," the site adds. It's most common in young children, and infection with certain E. coli strains is usually the cause.

Ariella had gone on vacation with her mom Jade Oakes, 36, her dad Lee Mann, 37, and her 6-year-old sister, Summer, on December 21, 2025, law firm Irwin Mitchell said in the release obtained by PEOPLE. Ariella fell ill in the second week of the trip, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, a fever and dehydration.

The hotel's clinic treated her, but her condition worsened and she was taken to the hospital in the U.K. on Jan. 6 of this year, the day after the family returned home.

Ariella was then moved to a specialist children's hospital on Jan. 7 and was placed in an induced coma, the law firm said. She sadly died three days later.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE via Irwin Mitchell, Oakes described the vacation as "the worst time of our lives," and said she and Mann felt "completely helpless" watching their daughter become increasingly unwell.

"I can’t begin to describe the pain of losing a child," she said. "After Ariella’s death, returning from hospital to her unopened Christmas presents was unbearable … We do our best to support each other, but most days it is a struggle to even get out of bed."

Ariella's death came after two other young children from the U.K. also became seriously ill after staying at the same hotel, Irwin Mitchell said in the release.

Chloe Crook, 2, and Arthur Broughton, 6, are currently recovering after contracting E. coli at the location.

Chloe was placed in an induced coma in a London hospital for four days after developing HUS and pneumonia, while Arthur has had to relearn how to walk properly due to the impact of HUS on his brain, the law firm said.

All three children fell ill during all-inclusive vacations at the same hotel between July 2024 and January 2026, Irwin Mitchell claimed in the release obtained by PEOPLE.

"Over many years, my team and I have supported countless [tourists] and the families of those who have fallen ill at resorts across the globe. While every case is serious, those involving children are always especially disturbing," Jatinder Paul, the lawyer representing the families, said.

"While nothing can undo the ordeal these families have suffered, our focus is now on helping to provide them with the answers they deserve and either the specialist support they require to come to terms with their loss or the specialist rehabilitation two of these children now need," he added.

TUI U.K. and Ireland told PEOPLE in a statement that it was "deeply saddened" by Ariella's death and "very sorry" to hear about Arthur and Chloe's illnesses.

The company explained that, when it was made aware of Ariella's illness, it "took immediate action by instructing an independent health and safety investigation," which included on-site assessments and hygiene and food-safety testing.

The investigation did not identify E. coli at the hotel, TUI U.K. and Ireland confirmed.

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The company also urged anybody on TUI vacations who might be experiencing health concerns to seek medical advice and to contact its customer support team for assistance.

PEOPLE has reached out to the JAZ Hotel Group, the hotel's parent company, for comment but did not immediately hear back.

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