The partner of the father of two children who died of carbon monoxide poisoning on a Thomas Cook holiday in Corfu told a Greek court she believed the operator had a duty of care to its customers.
Ruth Beatson was on holiday with Neil Shepherd and his children Christianne, seven, and Robert, six, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, when a faulty boiler leaked gas into their Corfu bungalow in October 2006.
Giving evidence after Shepherd yesterday, who she has since married, Beatson said the last she remembered of the incident was going to comfort Robert as his sister was vomiting, then waking up in a Greek hospital.
When asked by the court if she thought Thomas Cook was obliged to carry out safety checks on every boiler in every bungalow, she answered: “I think Thomas Cook have a duty to make sure that their customers are going somewhere safe.”
She was also asked about another family which had stayed in the bungalow just a few days before her and the family. She said: “Since we’ve returned to England we’ve found out that they were hospitalised after staying in that bungalow.
“They had similar symptoms, they were dizzy and sick.”
Speaking on the steps of the courthouse after the hearing, the children’s mother, Sharon Wood, said: “It has been nearly three and a half years since we lost Christi and Bobby to CO poisoning while on holiday in Corfu.”
A spokesman for Thomas Cook said the accident was “unique and unforeseeable” and was not the fault of either Nicola Carson or Richard Gibson, the two Cook resort representatives at the time of the tragedy.
He said: “What happened in Corfu was a terrible tragedy and the thoughts and sympathy of everyone at Thomas Cook will always be with the family and friends of Christianne and Robert Shepherd.
“This tragic accident happened because of a unique and unforeseeable set of circumstances for which neither Richard Carson or Nicola Gibson are responsible and should not be blamed in any way.
“We continue to give them our complete support and believe that they will both be fully vindicated by the court.”
The trial was adjourned until February 17, when more witnesses will be called to give evidence. It is then expected to resume on a date yet to be fixed in March.