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Parents of tragedy children highlight danger killer gas
The parents of two children who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Corfu called on the travel industry yesterday to do more to raise awareness of the dangers of the gas.
Christi Shepherd, 7, and her six-year-old brother Bobby were killed by carbon monoxide fumes while on a half-term holiday in October 2006.
The children's mother, Sharon Wood, said yesterday that the travel industry "needs to face up to its responsibility" and work harder to avoid another tragedy.
"The children would be here if we'd known about the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning," she said. "We'd like for people to be able to identify what buildings have carbon monoxide in them when they book a holiday."
She added: "If there is gas in an accommodation we would like a monitor to be provided. We'd also like the boiler servicing contracts to have a European standard. In Greece they have to service boilers every five years – in the UK it's every year."
At the launch of a poster campaign aimed at educating the public about the dangers of the gas Mrs Wood added that self-regulation within the travel industry was not sufficient and Government intervention was required.
"It's disgraceful. It's just like their lives don't mean anything," she said.
"There should be somebody imposing these rules over the tourist industry."
The children were on holiday with father Neal Shepherd and his partner Ruth Beatson at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel when fumes from a neighbouring apartment apparently leaked in. During the night Mr Shepherd heard his daughter cry and crawled to her bed. He tried to revive the children before he was overcome by gas.
Mr Shepherd attended the launch with Ms Beatson.
"We don't want to be sat in the same position with another family," he said.
Children's Minister Ed Balls, with the families at the launch, said he was "completely behind" the school poster competition.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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