The parents of Jack Fenton, the 22-year-old British tourist struck by a helicopter blade in Greece are seeking justice for their son.
Jack was killed instantly when he was struck by the tail rotor of a Bell 407 helicopter that had only minutes earlier landed at the Lolos helipad close to Athens international airport. The privately chartered aircraft had brought him and a group of six friends from Mykonos following a birthday celebration holiday.
The initial explanation provided by Greek authorities claimed that Jack had ignored safety instructions and ran back towards the helicopter to take a selfie.
Jack’s parents, Miguel and Tori, dispute this, alleging that safety protocols weren’t followed by the helicopter company, Superior Air.
“We’re having to defend our son and we shouldn’t have to,” Tori told ITV News.
“We know he’s not that stupid, everybody that was there said it was nothing of the sort and it makes me angry.”
Family friend, Robin Stanton-Gleaves accompanied the boys on their Grecian trip, and his son watched the incident unfold.
“Accidents happen in life … but there are accidents that are preventable,” Robin said.
“This is one of those. This is a preventable accident. Because if they disembarked the helicopter and they turned the helicopter off, Jack would still be alive.”
Alternatively he says, had protocals been followed, Jack would have been escorted given the helicopter blade was still spinning.
Speaking of the accident, Miguel said: “It’s brutal in every manner and it should never have happened”.
“To have that as a lasting memory, you don’t ever want to think that of your child.”
“There are glaring errors which has taken Jack … and ended his life.”
Tori and Miguel are desperate for answers, but the Greek authorities have not been in contact with them, refusing to comment while the investigation is underway.
Miguel recounted to ITV News how that night he was expecting to awaken to Jack returning home from holidays. Rather, he and wife Tori woke to police knocking on the door informing them of what had happened.
“The gap that he’s left in our lives is just unreal. We won’t ever get over it and it’s a scary, scary path that we’re going to have to take forever,” Miguel said.
Source: ITV News
