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Tragedy father to learn of deaths | Tragedy father to learn of deaths |
(4 days later) | |
Greek police are waiting to tell a UK tourist that his two children have died of suspected gas poisoning. | Greek police are waiting to tell a UK tourist that his two children have died of suspected gas poisoning. |
Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson have regained consciousness, but doctors say they are not well enough to receive the news. | Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson have regained consciousness, but doctors say they are not well enough to receive the news. |
A cleaner found the family in a hotel room in Corfu on Thursday. Robert, six, and his sister Christianne, seven, were dead and the adults were in a coma. | A cleaner found the family in a hotel room in Corfu on Thursday. Robert, six, and his sister Christianne, seven, were dead and the adults were in a coma. |
Police may have to wait for three weeks for the results of toxicology tests. | Police may have to wait for three weeks for the results of toxicology tests. |
A post-mortem examination on the children was carried out on Friday. | A post-mortem examination on the children was carried out on Friday. |
The children's natural mother, Sharon Wood, was taken to see their bodies in the island's morgue on Saturday. | The children's natural mother, Sharon Wood, was taken to see their bodies in the island's morgue on Saturday. |
Consciousness | Consciousness |
Dr Stephanos Gasteratos, Corfu hospital's pathologist, said the cause of death was a strong poisoning, but it was most likely not to have been food poisoning. | Dr Stephanos Gasteratos, Corfu hospital's pathologist, said the cause of death was a strong poisoning, but it was most likely not to have been food poisoning. |
There is speculation that a carbon monoxide leak has caused the deaths. | There is speculation that a carbon monoxide leak has caused the deaths. |
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 two adults are said to be 'on the road to recovery' | The two adults are said to be 'on the road to recovery' |
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. |