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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Family's grief at RAF fire deaths | Family's grief at RAF fire deaths |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The family of an RAF serviceman who died in fire with his two children in living quarters in Cyprus have spoken of their devastation. | The family of an RAF serviceman who died in fire with his two children in living quarters in Cyprus have spoken of their devastation. |
| RAF Corporal Andy Greenough, 37, from Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, died in the blaze with his five-year-old son Evan. | RAF Corporal Andy Greenough, 37, from Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, died in the blaze with his five-year-old son Evan. |
| A third body is believed to be his daughter Nia, two. | A third body is believed to be his daughter Nia, two. |
| The children's mother Eirlys was not in the house when the fire broke out. An investigation is under way into the cause of the blaze. | The children's mother Eirlys was not in the house when the fire broke out. An investigation is under way into the cause of the blaze. |
| Specialised fire inspectors are carrying out an investigation into the fire. | Specialised fire inspectors are carrying out an investigation into the fire. |
| Fellow servicemen and their families are expected to meet to seek reassurances and to "voice their fears and concerns". | Fellow servicemen and their families are expected to meet to seek reassurances and to "voice their fears and concerns". |
| Cpl Greenough's sister Leanne Connor told BBC Wales how she learned about the tragedy over the weekend. | Cpl Greenough's sister Leanne Connor told BBC Wales how she learned about the tragedy over the weekend. |
| The MoD confirmed that Evan Greenough also died | |
| "I had a phone call from my mother late on Saturday evening," she said, "just to say there was a fire and they were gone. I went down to my parents and there was complete devastation." | "I had a phone call from my mother late on Saturday evening," she said, "just to say there was a fire and they were gone. I went down to my parents and there was complete devastation." |
| She added that her parents had flown out to Cyprus to be with her sister-in-law widow, who was out with other RAF wives on a night out at the time of the fire. | She added that her parents had flown out to Cyprus to be with her sister-in-law widow, who was out with other RAF wives on a night out at the time of the fire. |
| Cpl Greenough had spent the day watching Wales' victory over England in the Six Nations, she explained. | Cpl Greenough had spent the day watching Wales' victory over England in the Six Nations, she explained. |
| "I made him promise to send me photos of the kids and he asked me to send some recent photos of my children. He had given up smoking and I was really proud of him. | "I made him promise to send me photos of the kids and he asked me to send some recent photos of my children. He had given up smoking and I was really proud of him. |
| "We talked about him coming home in April for a couple of days and about him eventually coming home and moving back to live nearer." | "We talked about him coming home in April for a couple of days and about him eventually coming home and moving back to live nearer." |
| Eirlys Greenough was out at the time of the fire | Eirlys Greenough was out at the time of the fire |
| There are reports that the fire started between 2100 and 2200 Cypriot time on Saturday and burnt with such intensity that fire fighters were beaten back by the flames. | There are reports that the fire started between 2100 and 2200 Cypriot time on Saturday and burnt with such intensity that fire fighters were beaten back by the flames. |
| Cyprus reporter Mike Theodoulou said: "I understand there is no suspician of foul play. | Cyprus reporter Mike Theodoulou said: "I understand there is no suspician of foul play. |
| "The local press are speculating that the fire started in the kitchen and spread very rapidly. The investigation will also focus on what caused the fire to spread so rapidly. | "The local press are speculating that the fire started in the kitchen and spread very rapidly. The investigation will also focus on what caused the fire to spread so rapidly. |
| "The house is fairly old and built in the 1950s but I do know the British military in Cyprus puts a big emphasis on fire safety. They have said that all the homes and buildings have fire extinguishers in them, fire blankets, smoke alarms, so it is a bit of a mystery." | "The house is fairly old and built in the 1950s but I do know the British military in Cyprus puts a big emphasis on fire safety. They have said that all the homes and buildings have fire extinguishers in them, fire blankets, smoke alarms, so it is a bit of a mystery." |
| Investigations are ongoing to discover the cause of the fire | |
| An MOD spokesman said an inquest into their deaths was due to open later this week. An expert from the forensic science service has been flown out from the UK to help the investigation. | An MOD spokesman said an inquest into their deaths was due to open later this week. An expert from the forensic science service has been flown out from the UK to help the investigation. |
| "The community is deeply in shock and traumatised," said Captain Crispin Coates. | "The community is deeply in shock and traumatised," said Captain Crispin Coates. |
| He added that work had just started at RAF Akrotiri to update houses on the base. "All the quarters on the island are scheduled for refurbishment or demolition," he said. | He added that work had just started at RAF Akrotiri to update houses on the base. "All the quarters on the island are scheduled for refurbishment or demolition," he said. |
| "The quarters are of a certain age and in need of modernisation. The programme is ongoing and started quite recently at RAF Akrotiri - in February." | "The quarters are of a certain age and in need of modernisation. The programme is ongoing and started quite recently at RAF Akrotiri - in February." |
| Capt Coates said the refurbishment included installing heating and double glazing, improving plumbing, installing new fixtures and fittings and ensuring the houses were brought up to the standards required to survive earthquakes. | Capt Coates said the refurbishment included installing heating and double glazing, improving plumbing, installing new fixtures and fittings and ensuring the houses were brought up to the standards required to survive earthquakes. |
| The standard of some UK forces accommodation in Cyprus was raised during question time in the House of Lords on Monday, following claims some troops lived in "shameful" conditions. | The standard of some UK forces accommodation in Cyprus was raised during question time in the House of Lords on Monday, following claims some troops lived in "shameful" conditions. |