British mother, 29, has appendix 'wrongly removed' during Egypt holiday

By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER Published: 08:22, 22 June 2026 | Updated: 08:24, 22 June 2026 A British mother has claimed doctors 'wrongly removed her appendix during a holiday to Egypt.  Sian Irving, 29, travelled to Sharm El Sheikh with her partner Jack Jackson, 29, to celebrate his birthday on what was meant to be a 10-day break. But halfway through the £2,000 holiday, mother-of-two Sian suddenly developed severe stomach pain, vomiting and a temperature of 41C.  Sian, from Paignton in Devon, claims doctors initially suspected appendicitis and removed her appendix before she eventually returned to the UK for further treatment. The former size 10 says she became a size six on returning home, with doctors fearing for her life. Doctors in the UK said she didn't need her appendix removed and her illness was most likely caused by food poisoning, she claims. She now says she has been left living with colitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the large intestine, and struggles to eat many everyday foods such as chocolate. Sian said: 'It started slowly. I began feeling really hot, and then the stomach pains came. Sian Irving, 29, (pictured, left)travelled to Sharm El Sheikh with her partner Jack Jackson, 29, (pictured, right) to celebrate his birthday on what was meant to be a 10-day break But halfway through the £2,000 holiday, mother-of-two Sian suddenly developed horrifying symptoms '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. '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 between September 19 and September 26, 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 were able to return to the UK on October 5, six days after they were supposed to return home. The journey home proved equally traumatic. The couple had travelled to Egypt between September 19 and September 26, 2025 Sian, from Paignton in Devon, claims doctors initially suspected appendicitis and removed her appendix before she eventually returned to the UK for further treatment Sian said: 'I was throwing up on the plane as well. When we landed I was still in so much pain. I don't really remember much because I was so unwell.' After returning to Britain, Sian was admitted to Exeter Hospital on October 5, 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'd never even heard of colitis before. It affects your large intestine and causes inflammation. 'You have pain, you need the toilet a lot and it's embarrassing because it's not something people really want to talk about.' The illness has dramatically altered her daily life. Sian says she can no longer tolerate foods including dairy and gluten, and has struggled with significant weight loss and fatigue. She said: 'I went from a size 10 to a size six. I'm getting a little better now, but it's been really difficult. 'If I eat certain foods, I can end up looking nine months pregnant because of the bloating. Even things like egg on toast can make me sick. 'I've had to completely change the way I eat.' The condition also affected her ability to care for her children during the worst stages of her illness. Sian and Jack were able to return to the UK on October 5, six days after they were supposed to return home Her holiday with her partner was brought to a screeching halt after she fell ill  Sian said: 'There was a point where I couldn't even pick my kids up. They now spend time with both their dad and me, and thankfully, I can do a lot more than I could before. 'But the tiredness is horrible, and I still struggle to sleep.' She says she has also been left with a permanent scar from the appendix operation. Looking back on the ordeal, Sian says 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 Sheikh International Hospital has not responded to a request for comment. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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