30/10/2006

Children's bodies flown home from Corfu

The bodies of two British children who died during a family holiday in Corfu are being flown back to the UK.

The bodies of Christianne Shepherd, 7, and her brother Robert, 6, are returning home with their mother Sharon Wood and her husband.

According to reports, the bodies of the children were taken in a white van from the island's mortuary to a neighbouring airport where a Thomas Cook plane was waiting to transport them home.

The children were found dead in their room at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel on the Greek island last week. They died as a result of inhaling carbon monoxide fumes, believed to have come from a faulty boiler or air-conditioning system.

Their father, Neil Shepherd, 38, and his partner Ruth Beaston, 27, were found unconscious and were taken to hospital.

Mr Shepherd is now conscious, but remains in the intensive care ward of the General Hospital of Corfu.

Ms Beaston has been moved into a regular hospital room and is reported to be making a good recovery.

The island's chief of security police Dimitris Bineris said that the police investigation was continuing and said that officers were working closely with both the British Consul and English liaison officers from Scotland Yard.

The results of toxicology tests are expected to take another seven days.

(KMcA)

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