Investigator on death of Oxford Brookes student in Greece

It is reported that Jack Fenton, 22, didn’t know the propeller was still spinning and was on his phone when he was killed by a helicopter’s blades.

READ ALSO: Oxford Brookes student killed by helicopter blades while on holiday

Ioannis Kandyllis, president of Greece’s committee for aviation accidents, said: “All four passengers had disembarked and were escorted to a private lounge awaiting a private flight for London.

“But as they were in the lounge the victim broke away and returned to the tarmac rushing to the helicopter at a fast pace.

“Witnesses we spoke to said he was had a phone to his ear and was walking fast to the aircraft, defying ground crew shouting to him ‘Stop! Stop!’.

“Within seconds the tragic accident occurred. It was horrific.”

An Oxford Brookes student has died after an incident involving a helicopter. Picture: Athena Picture Agency

The pilot of the helicopter and two ground crew members have testified before a prosecutor, providing detailed accounts to the investigating committee.

Mr Kandyllis said all safety regulations were followed in the landing of the helicopter and alighting of its four passengers.

He said: “Aviation regulations require disembarkation to take place either when the helicopter’s rotors have completely stopped, or when expert crew accompanies passengers off.

“In this case, both left and right doors were used by passengers to disembark. They were all escorted safely to the seating lounge.

“It is after, when the tragedy occurred.”

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This story was written by Liam Rice, he joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.

Liam covers politics, travel and transport. He occasionally covers Oxford United.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Liam.rice@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailLiamRice