This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6087576.stm
The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
UK children found dead in Corfu | UK children found dead in Corfu |
(20 minutes later) | |
Two British children have been found dead in a hotel room on the island of Corfu, Greek police have said. | Two British children have been found dead in a hotel room on the island of Corfu, Greek police have said. |
Their parents were found unconscious in the same hotel room and are now in comas in hospital. | Their parents were found unconscious in the same hotel room and are now in comas in hospital. |
It is not yet known how the boy aged seven and the five-year-old girl died but a local coroner has suggested they may have consumed some kind of poison. | It is not yet known how the boy aged seven and the five-year-old girl died but a local coroner has suggested they may have consumed some kind of poison. |
The family, who have not been named, were found by a cleaner in an upmarket hotel in the village of Gouvia. | The family, who have not been named, were found by a cleaner in an upmarket hotel in the village of Gouvia. |
The coroner is due to carry out a post-mortem examination on the children on Thursday afternoon. | The coroner is due to carry out a post-mortem examination on the children on Thursday afternoon. |
'Suicide pact' | 'Suicide pact' |
He told Greek television news there was evidence a strong poison had been consumed. | He told Greek television news there was evidence a strong poison had been consumed. |
He said the children may have been dead for 10 hours when they were found. | He said the children may have been dead for 10 hours when they were found. |
Their father, 38, and 28-year-old mother are in the intensive care unit of a local hospital, where they are said to be in a serious condition. | Their father, 38, and 28-year-old mother are in the intensive care unit of a local hospital, where they are said to be in a serious condition. |
The family were on holiday over the half-term break | The family were on holiday over the half-term break |
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, said one line of enquiry for police to investigate was whether the deaths were the result of a suicide pact made by the parents. | The BBC's Malcolm Brabant, in Athens, said one line of enquiry for police to investigate was whether the deaths were the result of a suicide pact made by the parents. |
He said hotel staff suggested there had been nothing wrong with the family in the days leading up to the deaths. | |
They were reported to be on a week's holiday booked with Thomas Cook during the school half-term break. | They were reported to be on a week's holiday booked with Thomas Cook during the school half-term break. |
A spokesman for the travel agency 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. | A spokesman for the travel agency 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. |
"Thomas Cook expresses its deepest sympathy at this time." | "Thomas Cook expresses its deepest sympathy at this time." |
A Foreign Office spokesman said officials were trying to contact next of kin. | |
Gouvia is a small fishing village, about five miles east of Corfu town, and is considered to be a relatively upmarket destination. | Gouvia is a small fishing village, about five miles east of Corfu town, and is considered to be a relatively upmarket destination. |