Carbon monoxide killed children in Corfu-coroner

CORFU, Greece - Two British children found dead in a Corfu hotel room earlier this week died of carbon monoxide poisoning, a Greek coroner said on Saturday.

"A large quantity of carbon monoxide was found in their systems," Theodore Vougiouklakis, one of two coroners who performed autopsies on the children, told reporters.

The toxic fumes probably entered the room where the children were sleeping from a leaking pipe connecting a gas-fired water boiler outside the room, authorities said.

"The toxicological analysis performed at the University of Ioannina forensic laboratory on the blood of the two victims showed that the cause of death was carbon monoxide intoxication," Vougiouklakis told Reuters Television.

Complete toxological results will be known in about 10 to 15 days, he said.

Charges of manslaughter due to negligence may be levelled against the hotel and the maintenance company responsible for the upkeep of the gas boiler, once the investigation has been completed, police officials said.

The hotel's management said it was cooperating with the police investigating the tragic deaths.

"The police and specialists are investigating the case, it's too early for conclusions," said George Hrisikopoulos, manager of the hotel. "We are working with the police."

Neil Shepherd, his children Christianne, 7, and Robert, 6, and his partner Ruth Beatson, from West Yorkshire, were found in their bungalow on Thursday by a maid at the four-star beachfront hotel on the Ionian Sea island.

Shepherd and Beatson were rushed to hospital in Corfu and remained there after coming out of a coma.

"I would say that we are optimistic that they are out of danger," Yannis Mantzaropoulos, director of the Corfu General Hospital, told reporters. "The woman is recuperating better than the man, not that the man isn't also doing well."

Both will remain in intensive care at least for Saturday.

Mantzaropoulos could not say whether the father had been told of the children's deaths. "I would say, for obvious reasons, I do not believe this has happened yet," he said.

Beatson's parents have arrived from Britain, as has the children's mother, who declined to speak to reporters after coming out of the morgue where she identified the children.

- REUTERS