Egyptian authorities have opened an investigation after a six-year-old Italian boy died from suspected food poisoning while on holiday in Sharm El Sheikh.

The boy’s parents also suffered symptoms and all three were taken to hospital, where the father remains in a serious condition. The mother, who is pregnant, was later discharged.

A relative told Italian newspaper La Stampa the boy and his dad were hit worst, while the mum suffered milder symptoms.

The relative said the family, from Palermo, initially visited a local doctor after becoming ill last Friday and were prescribed pills for food poisoning but were taken to hospital on Saturday 2 July when their symptoms didn’t clear up.

The boy died an hour after arriving at hospital.

Authorities have opened an inquiry and ordered an autopsy, the newspaper reports.