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Post-mortems for Corfu children Family tribute for Corfu children
(about 3 hours later)
Post-mortem examinations are to be carried out later on two UK children found dead in a hotel room in Corfu. Two British children feared to have died from poisoning during a Greek holiday have been described as "gorgeous" by family members.
It is not known how Robert Shepherd, six, and sister Christianne, seven, died. Fears of a possible gas leak or poisoning are being investigated. It is not known how Robert Shepherd, six, and sister Christianne, seven, died, but an official statement is due.
Their father Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson, from West Yorkshire, were found unconscious. Their father, Neil Shepherd and his partner, Ruth Beatson, both of W Yorks, remain seriously ill in Corfu.
Police said the father's condition had improved slightly overnight but Ms Beatson was "still no better". Ms Beatson's mother, Helen, said: They were gorgeous children. That's all we want to say."
The family, from Wakefield, was found by a cleaner in a luxury hotel in the village of Gouvia. Her father, Stephen, told reporters the family had "absolutely no idea what had happened".
The children lived with their natural mother in the West Yorkshire town. The pair flew to the Greek island on Friday to be at their daughter's bedside.
She flew out to the island with her new husband on Thursday afternoon after they were told of the deaths. Gas leak probe
A police spokesman in Greece said post-mortem examinations were to be carried out on Friday, and toxicology tests would point to the cause of death. A cleaner at the hotel, in the village of Gouvia, discovered the two children dead in their room on Thursday morning.
A number of theories are being considered - including the suggestion that the family may have been poisoned by something they ate, or may have been victims of a gas leak.
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Corfu, said the cause of death remained a "mystery" because sources at Corfu General Hospital had said early tests suggested the family had not consumed anything poisonous.
The stomach contents of all the four people have been sent to a university on the mainland for toxicology tests Police spokesmanThe stomach contents of all the four people have been sent to a university on the mainland for toxicology tests Police spokesman
Many hotel guests feared that the family may have been overwhelmed by "toxic fumes" that may have been related to a heating system, he said. Mr Shepherd, 38, and 27-year-old Ms Beaton - from Horbury near Wakefield - were unconscious and were taken to intensive care at a local hospital.
He also said guests had reported seeing Robert collapse at breakfast earlier in the day, and that the family had complained of feeling "woozy". Greek police said the father's condition had improved slightly overnight but Ms Beatson was "still no better".
The children's father, 38, and his 28-year-old partner are in the intensive care unit of the local hospital. They are investigating whether the family could have been poisoned by a gas leak or by something they ate.
Stefanos Gasteratos, a pathologist at Corfu General, said the cause of death was under investigation, although "first indications show the ingestion of a powerful poison", although he said toxicology test results would provide more information. The children lived with their biological mother in the West Yorkshire town.
She flew out to the island with her new husband on Thursday afternoon after hearing of the deaths.
One of Mr Shepherd's neighbours in the UK, Brian Holmes, described him as "a really good family man" who "loves his children".
'Toxic fumes'
A police spokesman in Greece said post-mortem examinations were due to be carried out on Friday and toxicology tests would indicate how the children died.
Earlier, Stefanos Gasteratos, a pathologist at Corfu General Hospital, said "first indications" showed the "ingestion of a powerful poison", although he said toxicology test results would provide more information.
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant said guests at the Corfu hotel feared the family may have been overwhelmed by "toxic fumes" related to a heating system.
He also said guests had reported seeing Robert collapse at breakfast earlier in the day and that the family had complained of feeling "woozy".
Fishing villageFishing village
A Greek police spokesman said food poisoning, particularly mushrooms, was a possible cause. The hotel said no-one else had been taken ill. The family was taking a week's holiday with Thomas Cook for the school half-term break.
The family, from Horbury near Wakefield, was on a week's holiday with Thomas Cook for the school half-term break. The tour company said it would not speculate on the cause of death but added it was working closely with the hospital and the police to gain further information and to support the family.
Brian Holmes, a neighbour, described Mr Shepherd as "a really good family man" who "loves his children".
Meanwhile, the tour company 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."
The Louis Corcyra hotel, where the family were staying, is in Gouvia, a small fishing village about five miles north of Corfu town. It is considered an upmarket destination.The Louis Corcyra hotel, where the family were staying, is in Gouvia, a small fishing village about five miles north of Corfu town. It is considered an upmarket destination.
The Louis Corcyra has strongly denied any possibility of food poisoning at the hotel.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. Last year 100,000 British tourists visited Corfu. Travel specialists say the deaths will have a big impact on the island.