A Brit tourist wouldn’t have seen the propeller that killed him due to its speed and ground staff shouted for him to “stop” as he walked towards it, a Greek police investigation has claimed. Police have released more details about how Jack Fenton, 22, was tragically killed by a helicopter propeller in Athens after returning with his siblings from the island of Mykonos.
Jack had been reportedly decapitated when he walked over to take a selfie under the propeller but an air accident investigator has now said that he was not taking a picture of himself. Athens accident investigation chief Ioannis Kondylis said: “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,” reported the Daily Star.
Mr 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.”
James Thomas, headmaster of Sutton Valence School, said: “Our school was very sad to hear the tragic news about Jack this morning.
“He was a very popular member of the community, and we have sent our condolences to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the incident.”
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office told Mirror Online : “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.”
A statement from Mr Fenton’s employer, social media agency Ball Street Network in London, to the BBC said: “Our team is in shock having just found out about this tragic news. Our love and thoughts are with Jack’s family and friends.”
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