GREECE: Holidaymakers in Corfu become increasingly worried after it is confirmed that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death of two British children at their hotel

Holidaymakers in Corfu became increasingly worried on Saturday (October 28) after it was confirmed that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death of two British children at their hotel. Neil Shepherd, his children Christianne, 7, and Robert, 6, and his partner Ruth Beatson, from West Yorkshire, were found in their bungalow on Thursday (October 26) by a maid at the four-star beachfront hotel on the Ionian Sea island, popular with British tourists. The two children were found dead while their father and his partner, who were in the same room, were found comatose. Shepherd and Beatson were rushed to hospital and came out of their coma on Friday (October 27) but both are expected to remain in intensive care for at least one more day. It is unclear if the father has been told about the death of his children. Police sources said the toxic fumes may have entered the room from a leaking pipe connected to a gas-fired water boiler outside the room. Charges of manslaughter due to negligence may be levelled against the hotel and the maintenance company responsible for the upkeep of the gas boiler, once the investigation has been completed, police officials said. Hotel management said they were cooperating with authorities. "It is too early to respond to questions concerning the cause of the tragic incident. The management is cooperating with the police and the experts for the discovery of the cause," said George Hrisikopoulos, manager of the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel. However the recent events have led to fear among the other guests in the hotel who say management has not kept other guests informed. "I think a lot of people are a little afraid," said one guest. "It's ruined our holiday, how can you relax?" asked another. The President of Greece's National Tourism Organisation Dimitris Lambadarios, arrived at the hotel on Saturday to ensure a thorough investigation. He told reporters the isolated incident should not cast a shadow on Greek tourism as a whole. "It is a good hotel, at least from what I know. I think that if there are maintenance problems as you say, obviously they are going to be accounted for, whoever did not do the job properly. But to jump to the conclusion that Greece is not a safe country because an incident happened I think is far fetched," said Lambadarios. Beatson's parents have arrived in Greece from Britain, as has the children's mother, who declined to speak to reporters after coming out of the morgue where she identified the children.

ITN Source | October 29, 2006

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