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Cops probing death of Jack Fenton ‘can’t make contact with pals’ who may hold clues after witnessing helicopter accident
GREEK officials investigating the tragic death of Brit tourist Jack Fenton claim they can't get in contact with his pals - who may hold key clues behind the horror helicopter rotor tragedy, cops said.
Investigators have made desperate attempts to contact eyewitnesses for more information.
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The Accident Investigation and Flight Safety Committee say it's made dozens of calls to Fenton's pals and claimed their phones have been switched off since the night of the tragedy, according to reports.
Holidaymaker Fenton, 22, died of appalling head injuries after stepping into a spinning rear rotor of a chopper which flew him to Athens, Greece, on Monday.
Greek heli firm bosses and police had suggested accounts executive Jack may have breached safety instructions and died while using his mobile phone.
Police also ordered toxicology tests to establish whether Jack was drunk - as his furious family and pals travelling with him hit back claiming he did not recklessly endanger himself.
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But the Greek capital’s accident investigation chief Ioannis Kondylis described Jack’s last moments in harrowing detail yesterday.
And he confirmed the tragic former public schoolboy was not taking a mobile phone snap when he died - amid continuing concerns that he was not given a proper safety brief.
Kondylis said after interviewing the pilot and witnesses: "From the testimonies we have collected, it does not appear from anywhere that the young man wanted to take a selfie.
“What is reported is that the 22-year-old was holding a mobile phone and had it to his ear, but it has not yet been clarified whether he was talking.”
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Kondylis revealed Jack exited the Bell 407 craft at Lolo Airfield near Spata, Athens, from the right door shortly after it landed - but returned to it and ducked under the tail of the craft.
But as he stooped he must not have seen the invisible - and lethal - rear rotor spinning at up to 500 revolutions per second.
Kondylis went on: "We have taken statements from both the pilot and the two ground staff. These are testimonies that must then be cross-referenced.
“According to them, it appears that all the regulations stipulated by the helicopter's manual were observed.
“One ground employee went to the left door, one to the right, they disembarked and escorted them 20 metres to the building.
“Then one stayed with them and the other ground attendant returned to the helicopter.
“The young passenger, unknown for what reason, returned to the helicopter. We don't know why he came back.
“He didn't say anything to anyone. According to the testimonies, he was holding a mobile phone which he had to his ear, without us knowing if he was talking to someone.
"When one of the ground staff saw him walking towards the helicopter he shouted loudly in English, 'Stop, stop, stop' but he didn't listen.
“The ground staff's voices were also heard by the captain who was inside the helicopter and was wearing headphones. So they shouted out loud.
“The young man, according to the statements, had exited through the right door and did not head back to his seat. He went under the tail section of the helicopter and ended up on the left side where he was hit by the rotor, which at the speed it was turning was not visible.”
Kondylis said CCTV may now play a key role in confirming Jack’s last movements.
And police now believe he may have strayed into the rotor after going to retrieve his mobile phone after leaving it on board.
Kondylis added: “There is a camera outside the hall. We do not know if this camera has a memory card.
“We submitted a request to the police to examine whether there is audio-visual material, which would help the most in understanding the circumstances of the accident."
A Greek police spokesman said tonight: “Our investigation is continuing but one of the major areas that we are exploring is that Jack forgot his mobile phone on the helicopter and that’s why he suddenly returned to it.
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“We are still in the process of completing our interviews but a number of eyewitnesses saw him with a mobile phone in his hand, moments before he was killed.
“Once our investigation has been completed, we will send the file to the prosecutor who will decide if there are to be any charges.”
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