Police tell Ben Needham’s mum to ‘prepare for the worst’ as dig for missing tot begins in Kos
The toddler was just 21 months old when he went missing near a farmhouse his grandparents were renovating
POLICE investigating the disappearance of missing toddler Ben Needham have today begun fresh excavation work on the Greek island of Kos.
Digging began after a new line of inquiry suggested 21-month-old Ben may have been crushed to death by a digger near a farmhouse his grandparents were renovating in July 1991.
Cops say they are "optimistic" a new excavation will provide answers, a quarter of a century after the British boy was last seen alive.
Ben’s mum Kerry Needham, of Sheffield, has been told to “prepare for the worst.”
South Yorkshire Police suspect 21-month-old Ben may have died in an accident 25 years ago near a farmhouse his grandparents were renovating.
The new line of inquiry suggests the toddler may have been crushed to death by a digger on Kos in July 1991.
Konstantinos Barkas was clearing land near where Ben was playing on the day he vanished.
A pal of the builder reportedly told police what happened and how Barkas may be responsible for the child's death.
The driver of the digger died of stomach cancer last year, just months before South Yorkshire detectives arrived on the island to investigate further.
His widow, Varvara, strongly dismisses the idea that her late husband accidentally killed the toddler.
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Jon Cousins, from South Yorkshire Police, said the 19-strong team expected to find "hundreds" of bones, all of which will be analysed in laboratories once they are recovered.
But he also refused to rule out that Ben may still be alive.
He said: "I am continuously keeping an open mind - and still do - as to what happened to Ben in 1991.
"There are still some other live lines of inquiry of what might have happened to Ben.
"All of this has resulted in a lot of myth and legend that has gathered over 25 years as to what has happened to Ben. It has allowed us to pare back and find out the truth and fact. That is why we're here today."
Det Insp Cousins added: "There are many lines of inquiry. I am keeping an open mind, but what I know at the moment with all the information we have, I've made the decision that it is necessary to do the work that we are going to be doing over the next week or so."
Asked if he expected to find answers, Det Insp Cousins said: "I am optimistic about the search taking place."
He added that he had had a "private" chat with Ms Needham, who is not in Kos.
Det Insp Cousins said: "I personally spoke to Kerry this morning and explained what I would be doing today.
"I had a private conversation with her around how she was feeling, and also explained the emotion that all of the team are feeling at this time.
"It is an event which quite clearly is not something to be excited about, given the circumstances, but we are optimistic about the work we are going to be doing."
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He added: "Based on what we found out in 2012 when a search was done nearby, we will be finding many hundreds of bones, each of which will have to be carefully looked at.
"Work will continue tirelessly once work has been assessed."
Forensic teams could be seen walking slowly in banks of around eight as the site - which continues to be farmed by a local family - was sectioned off into grids.
Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick, warned the search, which is to begin on Monday, could be painstaking.
He warned the first dig of a specific site on Kos is expected to last up to 12 days.
Det Supt Fenwick said: "There will be planned operational activity at two locations on the island that have been identified as areas of interest.
"We continue to keep an open mind and have updated Ben's family about certain lines of inquiry we're currently exploring."
Ben's mum, Kerry, who has been holding out hope that she would one day be reunited with her son, fully supports the South Yorkshire Police investigation.
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