MP urging Thomas Cook to launch carbon monoxide safety campaign after deaths of Wakefield children

Bobby and Christi Shepherd, aged six and seven, from Horbury, Wakefield, died in 2006 at the Louis Corcyra Beach Hotel on Corfu when they were overcome by fumes from a faulty boiler.

An inquest in May ruled that the children had been unlawfully killed and concluded that travel firm Thomas Cook breached its duty of care to the family.

Ms Creagh was today due to meet Thomas Cook Chief Executive Peter Fankhauser to push for the company to lead a Europe-wide campaign for improved carbon monoxide safety and a requirement for all hotels to install carbon monoxide alarms.

Ms Creagh said: “Having worked with the family for the past five years, their dearest wish is that no other family suffers a similar tragedy.

“They want Thomas Cook and the UK government to lead a Europe-wide campaign for improved carbon monoxide safety. Following Thomas Cook’s commitment to give £1m to create a new initiative to promote carbon monoxide awareness my meeting with Mr Fankhauser will look at how we take this campaign forward.”