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Corfu parents' gas safety plea | Corfu parents' gas safety plea |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The families of two children who died of carbon monoxide poisoning on holiday in Corfu have called for tour operators to tighten up safety procedures. | The families of two children who died of carbon monoxide poisoning on holiday in Corfu have called for tour operators to tighten up safety procedures. |
Christianne Shepherd, seven, and her brother Robert, six, of Horbury, West Yorkshire, were overcome by the gas at their hotel in October. | Christianne Shepherd, seven, and her brother Robert, six, of Horbury, West Yorkshire, were overcome by the gas at their hotel in October. |
Paul Wood, husband of Sharon Wood, the children's mother, said their deaths should never have happened. | Paul Wood, husband of Sharon Wood, the children's mother, said their deaths should never have happened. |
"We want to stop others dying in the same pointless way," he said. | "We want to stop others dying in the same pointless way," he said. |
'Happy and excited' | 'Happy and excited' |
Mr Wood spoke on behalf of the children's families at a news conference to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning. | Mr Wood spoke on behalf of the children's families at a news conference to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning. |
He said: "We hope that we can contribute to pushing the multi-million pound holiday industry into providing at least a standard level of safety that will allow all future holidaymakers to be confident they will wake up in the morning and take a breath of fresh air." | He said: "We hope that we can contribute to pushing the multi-million pound holiday industry into providing at least a standard level of safety that will allow all future holidaymakers to be confident they will wake up in the morning and take a breath of fresh air." |
Within 10 minutes of getting into bed Christi started crying and being sick Paul Wood href="/1/hi/uk/6209122.stm" class="">Family tells of trauma | |
The children were on a half-term holiday with their father Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson, who were also overcome by the gas. | The children were on a half-term holiday with their father Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson, who were also overcome by the gas. |
Mr Shepherd, speaking publicly for the first time, said the children complained of feeling unwell during the day of 25 October but seemed to have recovered. | Mr Shepherd, speaking publicly for the first time, said the children complained of feeling unwell during the day of 25 October but seemed to have recovered. |
He said: "We all went to bed at about 10.30pm or 10.45pm. We were all happy and excited, looking forward to the rest of the holiday and a boat trip the following day. | He said: "We all went to bed at about 10.30pm or 10.45pm. We were all happy and excited, looking forward to the rest of the holiday and a boat trip the following day. |
"Within 10 minutes of getting into bed Christi started crying and being sick. Ruth and I immediately got up and went to comfort the children. | "Within 10 minutes of getting into bed Christi started crying and being sick. Ruth and I immediately got up and went to comfort the children. |
The family want extra measures to prevent further tragedies | The family want extra measures to prevent further tragedies |
"Both Ruth and I collapsed and went into a coma. We were discovered by a chamber maid the following morning. | "Both Ruth and I collapsed and went into a coma. We were discovered by a chamber maid the following morning. |
"Christi and Bobby were already dead. Ruth and I were treated at the local hospital and would like to thank the hospital staff for saving our lives." | "Christi and Bobby were already dead. Ruth and I were treated at the local hospital and would like to thank the hospital staff for saving our lives." |
It is thought the children were killed by fumes from a faulty boiler. | It is thought the children were killed by fumes from a faulty boiler. |
The family said they understood that British tour operators' guidelines state that boilers and other gas installations only have to be inspected once in every three years. | The family said they understood that British tour operators' guidelines state that boilers and other gas installations only have to be inspected once in every three years. |
They said that was "simply not good enough", and there should at least be a proper check by a British Corgi-registered fitter every year. | They said that was "simply not good enough", and there should at least be a proper check by a British Corgi-registered fitter every year. |
Mr Wood said they also wanted tour company representatives to make carbon monoxide detectors available to holidaymakers. | Mr Wood said they also wanted tour company representatives to make carbon monoxide detectors available to holidaymakers. |
Six people in Corfu have been charged with manslaughter over the children's deaths, including the hotel director, general manager and maintenance manager. | Six people in Corfu have been charged with manslaughter over the children's deaths, including the hotel director, general manager and maintenance manager. |
The news conference marked the start of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week and was organised by a series of charities and campaigners including the Carbon Monoxide and Gas Safety Society (CO-Gas Safety). | The news conference marked the start of Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week and was organised by a series of charities and campaigners including the Carbon Monoxide and Gas Safety Society (CO-Gas Safety). |
It heard from other families of victims, including Paul Overton, of Lymington, Hampshire, father of 11-year-old Katie, who died in 2003 in a rented home in Portsmouth after she was overwhelmed by fumes from a gas boiler. | It heard from other families of victims, including Paul Overton, of Lymington, Hampshire, father of 11-year-old Katie, who died in 2003 in a rented home in Portsmouth after she was overwhelmed by fumes from a gas boiler. |