What was meant to be a relaxing luxury holiday quickly turned into a terrifying experience for 42-year-old Steve Ellis.
The father-of-one from Gloucester had jetted off to the Coral Sea Imperial Sensatori, a five-star resort in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, expecting ten nights of comfort and calm.
But just a few days in, he found himself violently shocked by a bedside lamp — an incident he says could have cost him his life.
“It Felt Like I Was Being Burnt Alive,” Steve Recalls
Steve was in his hotel room when he reached out to touch the lamp next to his bed. What happened next was completely unexpected.
“The moment my hand touched it, I felt an intense jolt.
My left hand stuck to the lamp, then my right… I couldn’t let go,” he said.
Before he knew it, the force of the shock had thrown him across the room.
The electric current didn’t just stop at his hands.
It travelled through the metal fillings in his mouth, leaving him with a painful ring-shaped burn around his lips.
“Doctors told me I was lucky to be alive.
The current could have completely burned me from the inside,” Steve added.
Lingering Pain and a Tough Recovery
Months later, Steve is still dealing with the aftershocks — not just emotionally, but physically.
He’s been through multiple blood tests and an ECG scan to check the state of his heart.
His hands still tingle and burn daily, and his shoulder is in constant pain.
“I work as a kitchen fitter, and this has made my job almost impossible.
I can’t lift properly, and by midday, I’m in so much pain I can barely go on.
I’ve lost income because I’ve had to leave early or take days off,” he said.
Allegations of Negligence and Pressure to Stay Quiet
Even more shocking, perhaps, is Steve’s claim that the hotel staff didn’t take the incident seriously.
After seeing the on-site doctor, he approached the resort’s holiday rep to report what had happened.
But instead of support, he says he was met with indifference — and even pressure to lie.
“He asked my partner to say she witnessed the shock, even though she wasn’t in the room.
I refused.
I wasn’t going to lie for their paperwork,” Steve said.
Hidden Danger: Exposed Wires on the Lamp
Steve insists the lamp hadn’t been used before the incident.
But once the shock happened, he noticed something was wrong.
“There were wires sticking out of it, but they weren’t easy to spot unless you looked closely.
It was just bad luck I found out the hard way,” he explained.
He shudders to think what might’ve happened if a child had been in his position.
“I’m a grown man and barely made it out.
A kid touching that lamp… it could’ve been fatal.”
Still Waiting for Accountability
Despite the trauma and ongoing pain, Steve says the resort has yet to offer any real help or apology.
The hotel and holiday provider have been contacted for comment, but no official response has been shared yet.
What’s Next for Steve?
For now, Steve is focused on healing and raising awareness.
He hopes that sharing his story will push resorts to double-check their safety standards — especially with electrical appliances in guest rooms.
“I just want people to be careful,” he said.
“You go on holiday expecting to relax, not to come home with injuries that change your life.”