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| Corfu tragedy couple out of coma | Corfu tragedy couple out of coma |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The father of two British children who apparently died from poisoning during a Greek holiday and his partner have both regained consciousness. | The father of two British children who apparently died from poisoning during a Greek holiday and his partner have both regained consciousness. |
| But Neil Shepherd and Ruth Beatson, both of W Yorks, have yet to be told of the deaths of Robert Shepherd, six, and sister Christianne, seven. | |
| The coroner in the island of Corfu investigating the two deaths said the cause was possibly a gas leak. | |
| He said food poisoning was ruled out but awaits the full results of tests. | |
| Police officers may have to wait up to three weeks for the results of toxicology tests and post-mortem examinations, carried out on Friday. | |
| Robert Shepherd's death is unexplained | Robert Shepherd's death is unexplained |
| Doctors, who have decided not to tell the couple about the deaths for the time being, say police will not be able to interview them until psychologists give the go ahead. | Doctors, who have decided not to tell the couple about the deaths for the time being, say police will not be able to interview them until psychologists give the go ahead. |
| Earlier, the two children were described as "gorgeous" by family members. | Earlier, the two children were described as "gorgeous" by family members. |
| Ms Beatson's mother, Helen, said: "They were gorgeous children. That's all we want to say." | Ms Beatson's mother, Helen, said: "They were gorgeous children. That's all we want to say." |
| Her father, Stephen, told reporters the family had "absolutely no idea what had happened". | Her father, Stephen, told reporters the family had "absolutely no idea what had happened". |
| The pair flew to the Greek island on Friday to be at their daughter's bedside. | The pair flew to the Greek island on Friday to be at their daughter's bedside. |
| After they arrived, 27-year-old Ms Beatson regained consciousness and managed to smile - although she has not yet spoken to anyone. | After they arrived, 27-year-old Ms Beatson regained consciousness and managed to smile - although she has not yet spoken to anyone. |
| Mr Shepherd, 38, who is separated from the children's biological mother, has also regained consciousness. | Mr Shepherd, 38, who is separated from the children's biological mother, has also regained consciousness. |
| Coma | Coma |
| On Thursday morning, a cleaner at the hotel in the village of Gouvia discovered the two children dead in their room, and Ms Beatson and Mr Shepherd unconscious. | On Thursday morning, a cleaner at the hotel in the village of Gouvia discovered the two children dead in their room, and Ms Beatson and Mr Shepherd unconscious. |
| The couple, from Horbury near Wakefield, were thought to be in a coma and were taken to Corfu General Hospital. | The couple, from Horbury near Wakefield, were thought to be in a coma and were taken to Corfu General Hospital. |
| The police investigation is now focused on the possibility the family could have been poisoned by a gas leak. | The police investigation is now focused on the possibility the family could have been poisoned by a gas leak. |
| On Friday afternoon, engineers examined air conditioning, boiler systems and a water heater at the hotel. | On Friday afternoon, engineers examined air conditioning, boiler systems and a water heater at the hotel. |
| A pathologist at the hospital told reporters that he suspected the family had ingested a "powerful poison". | A pathologist at the hospital told reporters that he suspected the family had ingested a "powerful poison". |
| The children lived with their biological mother in Horbury. She flew out to the island with her new husband on Thursday when they were told of the deaths. | The children lived with their biological mother in Horbury. She flew out to the island with her new husband on Thursday when they were told of the deaths. |
| The family had been taking a week's holiday for the school half-term break. | The family had been taking a week's holiday for the school half-term break. |
| 'Not food' | 'Not food' |
| Thomas Cook, the company they were travelling with, said it was working closely with the hospital and the police to gain further information and to support the family. | Thomas Cook, the company they were travelling with, said it was working closely with the hospital and the police to gain further information and to support the family. |
| BBC correspondent Luisa Baldini said Britons at the hotel had been queuing up to buy British newspapers to try to find out what has been happening. | BBC correspondent Luisa Baldini said Britons at the hotel had been queuing up to buy British newspapers to try to find out what has been happening. |
| Guests at the Louis Corcyra Hotel told how they recalled seeing Robert collapse at breakfast on Wednesday, and that the family had complained of feeling "woozy". | Guests at the Louis Corcyra Hotel told how they recalled seeing Robert collapse at breakfast on Wednesday, and that the family had complained of feeling "woozy". |
| But the hotel strongly denied any possibility of food poisoning at the hotel, saying none of the other guests was taken ill. | But the hotel strongly denied any possibility of food poisoning at the hotel, saying none of the other guests was taken ill. |