A TUMMY bug probably saved the life of a Wellington businesswoman and her boyfriend on holiday in Egypt this week.

Laura Cooper and Simon Richardson had planned to go out in the resort of Dahab, scene of a triple bomb blast on Monday evening. But they stayed in their hotel because Laura, 28, was feeling unwell and so avoided the terrorist explosions, which killed at least 23 people and injured scores of others.

Simon, who works for the Environment Agency, phoned Laura's mum, Maggie, to tell her of the near miss shortly after the attack.

"He said there had been three explosions, but they were alright," said Mrs Cooper, who runs the Spoilt Rotten business in Fore Street with her daughter.

"The details are a bit vague, but Simon said Laura hadn't been feeling very well, probably because of something she'd eaten, so they stayed in. Otherwise, they'd probably have been in and around where the bombs went off.

"It looks as though Laura's tummy bug saved their lives."

Laura, of Mantle Street, is due back this evening (Thursday).

"I can't wait to give her a big hug and a kiss and hear the full story," said Mrs Cooper. "She's been busy lately and was really looking forward to having her first exotic holiday. I wasn't really shocked at all because the first I heard of the bombs was when Simon phoned.

"But now it's sunk in, I realise how lucky they were.

"I've since watched the television pictures with my husband, Ray, and it was a terrible scene."