Horror as UK mum’s appendix 'wrongly' removed after she falls ill on Egypt holiday

A woman has claimed she had her appendix mistakenly removed after falling ill while on holiday in Egypt. Sian Irving, 29, travelled to Sharm El Sheikh with her partner Jack Jackson, 29, to celebrate his birthday on what was supposed to be a 10-day break.

Halfway through the £2,000 holiday, Sian developed severe stomach pain, vomiting and a temperature of 41 degrees. Sian, from Paignton, Devon, claims doctors initially suspected appendicitis and removed her appendix before she eventually returned to the UK for further treatment.

Mum of two Sian said: “It started slowly. I began feeling really hot, and then the stomach pains came.

“The pain was unbelievable. It felt like my insides were being stabbed and ripped apart at the same time. I was vomiting constantly and whimpering like a little kid because it hurt so much.”

She claims doctors in the UK said she didn’t need her appendix removed and her illness was most likely caused by food poisoning.

Sian now says she has been left living with colitis, a condition which causes inflammation of the large intestine. She said she also struggles to eat many everyday foods such as chocolate.

The mum said: “They did scans and said they couldn’t really see anything. At first they thought it might be gas and then they told me it was appendicitis.

“My temperature stayed at 41 degrees and they were putting wet cloths over me trying to cool me down.”

The couple had travelled to Egypt in September 2025. Sian said she spent four to five days in hospital in Sharm El Sheikh before eventually being allowed to fly home.

She said: “At one point, I was told I could die if my condition didn’t improve. After the surgery, I still had the same symptoms.

“I’d been in Egypt for a long time by then, and eventually they said I needed to go back to the UK. I can’t believe they took my appendix out, it’s left me in constant pain and also I hate my stomach now – I have no confidence anymore.”

Sian and Jack returned to the UK on October 5, six days after they were supposed to return home.

After returning to Britain, Sian was admitted to Exeter Hospital where she spent five nights undergoing further tests and treatment.

She said doctors diagnosed her with ongoing colitis and treated her with intravenous antibiotics and steroids.

Sian said: “I’m getting a little better now, but it’s been really difficult.”

Looking back on her ordeal, Sian said the holiday she hoped would create happy memories instead changed her life forever.

She said: “I still have the scar and I still have the condition. I never imagined to have all of this.

“It’s nearly a year later, and I’m still dealing with it every single day.”

Sharm El Sheik International Hospital did not respond to a request for comment.