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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
Ryan Fahey

Man decapitated by helicopter rotor while 'taking a selfie'

The British man who was decapitated by a helicopter tail rotor while "taking a selfie" has now been identified.

Student Jack Fenton, 22, was disembarking from a helicopter in Athens when he was hit in the head with the tail blade.

It's been reported he was returning from a brief trip to Mykonos with three friends at the time of the tragedy.

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A Greek police source told the Mirror that the Briton had been decapitated by the moving blades at the tail of the helicopter.

"The blades were still in motion when he disembarked and our investigation has focused on possible negligence. The rota should have been at standstill when the young man left the aricraft. "

"The case file has now been sent to the public prosecutor," the police officer added.

"The inquiry has been completed."

The public-school educated Brit had apparently moved to the back of the chopper, a Bell 407, with his mobile phone in hand.

On Tuesday reports were rife in the Greek media that the 21-year-old had been about to take a selfie when tragedy struck. He was described as being decapitated instantly.

Three people including the aircraft's pilot were arrested overnight with the pilot facing charges of involuntary manslaughter.

The pilot reportedly radioed his colleague on board another helicopter, which had the man's parents on, to raise the alarm.

They diverted his parents to another airfield in Spata, to spare them the horror of seeing their son's body.

A source told The Sun: “The pilot saw what had happened and decided to spare the parents the sight of their son - it was horrendous."

(Facebook)

The outlet also reported a police source who said: “We are talking about a tragedy - an unprecedented tragedy - a tragedy that should never have happened.”

“He was the first to disembark the Bell 407 helicopter in Athens and as he moved to the back, he was hit in the head by the aircraft’s small rear rotor,” a senior police official told The Times.

“There was no chance of him surviving. His death was instantaneous and the accident simply gory.”

Local reports suggested he had been "taking a photo" when the helicopter blade hit him.

Manslaughter charges have been issued against the pilot and two ground technicians who are all currently in police custody.

The tragic accident took place on a reported 115 mile trip which would've cost Mr Fenton's parents tens of thousands of pounds.

It's believed that at least one of his siblings was on board at the time their brother was killed.

An FCDO spokesperson told The Mirror in a statement: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.”

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