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| UK children found dead in Corfu | UK children found dead in Corfu |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two British children have been found dead in a hotel room on the island of Corfu, Greek police have said. | Two British children have been found dead in a hotel room on the island of Corfu, Greek police have said. |
| Their father and his partner were found unconscious in the same hotel room and are now in comas in a nearby hospital. | |
| It is not known how Robert Shepherd, six, and sister Christianne, seven, died but police are investigating whether they were poisoned. | It is not known how Robert Shepherd, six, and sister Christianne, seven, died but police are investigating whether they were poisoned. |
| The family, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were found by a cleaner in a luxury hotel in the village of Gouvia. | |
| The Foreign Office confirmed the father's name is Neil Shepherd and his partner is Ruth Beatson. | The Foreign Office confirmed the father's name is Neil Shepherd and his partner is Ruth Beatson. |
| The stomach contents of all the four people have been sent to a university on the mainland for toxicology tests Police spokesman | The stomach contents of all the four people have been sent to a university on the mainland for toxicology tests Police spokesman |
| The children's natural mother has been informed of their deaths. | The children's natural mother has been informed of their deaths. |
| A police spokesman said post-mortem examinations were to be carried out on Friday morning. | A police spokesman said post-mortem examinations were to be carried out on Friday morning. |
| He added: "The stomach contents of all the four people have been sent to a university on the mainland for toxicology tests to be done. | He added: "The stomach contents of all the four people have been sent to a university on the mainland for toxicology tests to be done. |
| "We hope to get the results back after two or three days, to confirm if it is poison." | "We hope to get the results back after two or three days, to confirm if it is poison." |
| Mushrooms | Mushrooms |
| Earlier the coroner told Greek television news there was evidence a strong poison had been consumed, and the children may have been dead for 10 hours when they were found. | Earlier the coroner told Greek television news there was evidence a strong poison had been consumed, and the children may have been dead for 10 hours when they were found. |
| Their father, 38, and his 28-year-old partner are in the intensive care unit of a local hospital, where they are said to be in a critical condition. | |
| The family were on holiday over the half-term break | The family were on holiday over the half-term break |
| The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, said Greek police were investigating a number of lines of inquiry, including whether the deaths were the result of a suicide pact by the adults. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, said Greek police were investigating a number of lines of inquiry, including whether the deaths were the result of a suicide pact by the adults. |
| Police also said the family may have suffered food poisoning, possibly from eating mushrooms. | Police also said the family may have suffered food poisoning, possibly from eating mushrooms. |
| A Greek police spokesman said: "The doctor says it's poison. We are still investigating but a possible cause could be mushrooms. | A Greek police spokesman said: "The doctor says it's poison. We are still investigating but a possible cause could be mushrooms. |
| "I stress this is only a possibility as we are still investigating the deaths. | "I stress this is only a possibility as we are still investigating the deaths. |
| "Other guests said they didn't see the family have dinner in the hotel last night. | "Other guests said they didn't see the family have dinner in the hotel last night. |
| "So we think they may have had dinner outside but they could have eaten in their rooms, although we haven't found anything." | "So we think they may have had dinner outside but they could have eaten in their rooms, although we haven't found anything." |
| Fishing village | Fishing village |
| They were reported to be on a week's holiday booked with Thomas Cook during the school half-term break. | They were reported to be on a week's holiday booked with Thomas Cook during the school half-term break. |
| A spokesman for the travel agency said: "At this stage it is not possible to speculate on the causes, however we are working closely with the hospital and the police to gain further information and to support the family. | A spokesman for the travel agency said: "At this stage it is not possible to speculate on the causes, however we are working closely with the hospital and the police to gain further information and to support the family. |
| Both the hotel and the locals will feel this very heavily Travel agent Noel Josephides | |
| "Thomas Cook expresses its deepest sympathy at this time." | "Thomas Cook expresses its deepest sympathy at this time." |
| The Louis Corcyra hotel, where the family were found, is located in Gouvia, a small fishing village about five miles north of Corfu town. It is considered to be a relatively upmarket destination. | The Louis Corcyra hotel, where the family were found, is located in Gouvia, a small fishing village about five miles north of Corfu town. It is considered to be a relatively upmarket destination. |
| The Louis Corcyra has strongly denied any possibility of food poisoning at the hotel. | |
| Last year 100,000 British tourists visited Corfu, and travel specialists say the deaths will have a big impact on the island. | |
| Travel agent Noel Josephides told BBC News: "Both the hotel and the locals will feel this very heavily." | |
| The family's home in Horbury, Wakefield, was empty on Thursday. | The family's home in Horbury, Wakefield, was empty on Thursday. |