This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-tyne-13901815

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Remains of fall death man Christopher Rochester exhumed Remains of fall death man Christopher Rochester exhumed
(about 7 hours later)
The body of a County Durham man who died on the Greek island of Rhodes 11 years ago has been exhumed so a row over a missing organ can be settled. The body of a County Durham man who died on the Greek island of Rhodes 11 years ago has been exhumed in a bid to settle a row over a missing organ.
Christopher Rochester, 24, died after falling from a balcony, but was missing a kidney when his body was flown home. Christopher Rochester, 24, died in a fall from a balcony but he was missing a kidney when his body was flown home.
An organ later sent out failed a DNA match, and Greek authorities have demanded further samples from the body. An organ that was later sent out failed a DNA match and Greek authorities have demanded further samples from the body.
A forensic team from Durham Police led the exhumation at Ropery Lane Cemetery in Chester-le-Street early on Monday. A forensic team from Durham Police led the exhumation at Ropery Lane Cemetery in Chester-le-Street earlier.
A Greek doctor was convicted of neglecting Mr Rochester during his treatment in hospital after a trial in 2008. A Greek doctor was convicted in 2008 of neglecting Mr Rochester during his treatment in hospital.
'Nowhere to hide''Nowhere to hide'
Mr Rochester's mother and stepfather, Pam and George Cummings, have long called for criminal action over the kidney mix-up. Mr Rochester's mother and stepfather, Pam and George Cummings, have campaigned for many years for a criminal investigation over the kidney mix-up.
Mr Cummings said: "This is something we very much wanted to avoid. We believed that DNA from Christopher's mother would be enough to prove that the kidney they sent back wasn't Christopher's.Mr Cummings said: "This is something we very much wanted to avoid. We believed that DNA from Christopher's mother would be enough to prove that the kidney they sent back wasn't Christopher's.
"But sadly the Greek authorities stood by their request for Christoper's body to be exhumed and to extract DNA from the source."But sadly the Greek authorities stood by their request for Christoper's body to be exhumed and to extract DNA from the source.
"The Greeks have made it as difficult as possible for us from day one."The Greeks have made it as difficult as possible for us from day one.
"But when the test results come back positive, as we expect them to, the Greek authorities will have nowhere left to hide.""But when the test results come back positive, as we expect them to, the Greek authorities will have nowhere left to hide."
North Durham MP Kevan Jones, who has campaigned on behalf of the family, added: "Chris fell off a balcony and survived. He had a small tear in one of the arteries going to his kidney, which led to him bleeding to death over several hours in a Greek hospital. North Durham MP Kevan Jones, who has campaigned on behalf of the family, added: "Chris fell off a balcony and survived.
"He had a small tear in one of the arteries going to his kidney which led to him bleeding to death over several hours in a Greek hospital.
"If action had been taken swiftly he would have survived."If action had been taken swiftly he would have survived.
"The kidney, which was important in determining how he died, was missing and was replaced with one that clearly wasn't Christopher's. This is a key point in proving that there was negligence.""The kidney, which was important in determining how he died, was missing and was replaced with one that clearly wasn't Christopher's. This is a key point in proving that there was negligence."
DNA samples taken from Mr Rochester's remains will be sent to a laboratory in Belgium for independent analysis.DNA samples taken from Mr Rochester's remains will be sent to a laboratory in Belgium for independent analysis.