GREECE: Mother of two British children who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a hotel room in Corfu visits scene of tragedy while British expert tests hotel boiler

Sharon Wood, the mother of two British children who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in a hotel room in Corfu visited the hotel where the tragedy occurred on Saturday (October 28). Ms. Woods accompanied by British Embassy representatives, struggled to contain herself as she walked towards the bungalow where her children died. Meanwhile, a British expert was called into Corfu on Saturday (October 28) by a travel company to participate in the investigation of the hotel's heating system. Brian Thompson, a boiler expert, conducted tests on a boiler near the bungalow where the family had stayed. He said he had not yet been allowed to check the boiler of the actual bungalow where the family was, but was using the adjacent boiler as a principle test. He said he believed that a possible carbon monoxide leak would have originated at the gas boiler. On Friday (October 27), Greek police assigned an engineering team to investigate the gas boiler at the family's bungalow. Theodore Vougiouklakis, Chief Coroner in the investigation, confirmed on Saturday (October 28) that the autopsies showed the children had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. "The blood of the two victims show that the cause of death is due to carbon monoxide intoxication," said Vougiouklakis. Complete toxological results will be known in about 10 to 15 days, he said. 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. The hotel's management said it was cooperating with the police investigating the tragic deaths. 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 beach-front hotel on the Ionian Sea island, popular with British tourists. Shepherd and Beatson were rushed to hospital in Corfu and remained there after coming out of a coma. "I would say that we are optimistic that they are out of danger," Yannis Mantzaropoulos, director of the Corfu General Hospital, told reporters. "The woman is recuperating better than the man, not that the man isn't also doing well." Both will remain in intensive care at least for Saturday. Earlier on Saturday, Ms. Woods visited the mortuary to identify the children's bodies. The mother of the children, who arrived late on Friday (October 27), looked shaken as she was supported by a friend when she returned to her hotel after the visit. Beatson's parents also have arrived from Britain, both have declined to speak to reporters.

ITN Source | October 28, 2006

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