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Carbon monoxide killed children | Carbon monoxide killed children |
(10 minutes later) | |
Two children who died on Corfu were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Greek officials. | Two children who died on Corfu were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Greek officials. |
A pathologist said very high levels of the gas were found in the bodies of Christianne Shepherd, seven and her brother Robert, six. | A pathologist said very high levels of the gas were found in the bodies of Christianne Shepherd, seven and her brother Robert, six. |
The children were found dead in their hotel room next to their father Neil Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson, who were both unconscious. | |
The children's natural mother, Sharon Wood, 35, has visited their bodies. | The children's natural mother, Sharon Wood, 35, has visited their bodies. |
Mr Shepherd, 38, and his partner, 27, have regained consciousness but have not yet received the news of the children's deaths. | |
A cleaner found the family in a hotel room in Corfu on Thursday. | A cleaner found the family in a hotel room in Corfu on Thursday. |
Pathologist professor Theodore Vouyouklais, who examined the children's bodies, said investigators believed the source was a hot water boiler in a room next to the one the family was staying in - although this theory has not yet been proved. | |
Mrs Wood and a man believed to be her husband were accompanied to the morgue by officials from the British Consul on Saturday. | Mrs Wood and a man believed to be her husband were accompanied to the morgue by officials from the British Consul on Saturday. |
The children lived with their biological mother in Horbury, near Wakefield, and a post-mortem examination was carried out on their bodies on Friday. | The children lived with their biological mother in Horbury, near Wakefield, and a post-mortem examination was carried out on their bodies on Friday. |
Consciousness | Consciousness |
Robert Shepherd died of carbon monoxide poisoning | |
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 Mrs Wood, has also regained consciousness. | Mr Shepherd, 38, who is separated from Mrs Wood, 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, were thought to be in a coma and were taken to Corfu General Hospital. | The couple, from Horbury, were thought to be in a coma and were taken to Corfu General Hospital. |
On Friday afternoon, engineers had examined air conditioning, boiler systems and a water heater at the hotel. | On Friday afternoon, engineers had 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 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 had strongly denied any possibility of food poisoning at the hotel, saying none of the other guests was taken ill. | But the hotel had strongly denied any possibility of food poisoning at the hotel, saying none of the other guests was taken ill. |