Cook to respond to coroners’ safety concerns

Thomas Cook has promised to respond to concerns raised by a coroner following the death of a customer in Turkey on 2008.

Father of two Gregory White, 43, drowned at the Topkapi Palace and a coroner’s court heard criticisms last week about safety facilities and procedures in place.

Coroner Roger Whittaker told Bradford Coroner’s Court he was concerned about what he hearing had been told and that he would be writing to Cook.

A spokeswoman for the operator told Travel Weekly it had not yet received the letter but would respond as soon as it did.

She added: “Our deepest and sincere sympathy will always be with the family and friends of Mr White and our thoughts continue to be with them at this very difficult and painful time.”

The case is likely to further increase pressure on European legislators to agree and imopse uniform health and safety policies for hotels and resorts across the Continent, something the Federation of Tour Operators has called for.

The coroner’s hearing was told there was just one lifeguard on duty at the time of White’s death. 

Metropolitan Police officer William Riches, who witnessed the drowning, described efforts to revive White as “totally ineffective” and added he was “astounded by the inaction of the staff at the hotel”.

He also said a bag and mask apparatus were not working and there was no monitoring system, oxygen or defibrillator in the ambulance which he described as “little more than a Ford Transit with a trolley”.

Riches said he also had to intervene when a man claiming to be a doctor applied a defibrillator while White’s feet were still in the pool fearing the shock may have electrocuted other swimmers.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded but the coroner said he would srite to Cook in a bid to ensure his concerns were dealt with.