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Tonbridge man and Maidstone schoolboy Jack Fenton 'wasn't taking selfie' at time of helicopter tragedy in Athens, Greek officials admit

Greek officials have confirmed a man killed by a helicopter rotor while on holiday was not taking a selfie.

Jack Fenton, from Tonbridge, died instantly after being struck by the aircraft's blade after landing in Athens from Mykonos on Monday.

Tonbridge man Jack Fenton, 22, died instantly after being struck by a helicopter blade in Athens, Greece. Picture: Facebook
Tonbridge man Jack Fenton, 22, died instantly after being struck by a helicopter blade in Athens, Greece. Picture: Facebook

It had originally been claimed the 22-year-old had disembarked from the chopper and made his way to the back where he was fatally injured.

Yesterday, the former Maidstone schoolboy's friends and family denied claims he was taking a selfie when the accident occurred.

Sister Daisy Fenton, 20, said: "This was Jack's first ever helicopter ride. So you can imagine how cautious and wary, if anything, he was.

"All the rest, of him running back on the tarmac and violating protocols, is rubbish.

"Why? Because there were no protocols. They were never told what to do and what not to."

Jack Fenton, who went to school at Sutton Valence in Maidstone, has been described as a "wonderful boy". Picture: Facebook
Jack Fenton, who went to school at Sutton Valence in Maidstone, has been described as a "wonderful boy". Picture: Facebook

But now, Athens chief accident investigation officer Ioannis Kondylis, who heads the country’s Air Accident Investigation and Aviation Safety Board, has also confirmed that was not the case.

He told local media: "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."

Having conducted interviews with the pilot and two ground staff, who were all arrested, Mr Kondylis explained how the former Sutton Valence pupil got out of the helicopter and ducked under the tail of it where he was hit by the rotor, the Sun reports.

He added: "One ground employee went to the left door, one to the right, they disembarked and escorted them [the group] 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."

'The young passenger, unknown for what reason, returned to the helicopter...'

The Greek investigator has said one member of the ground staff shouted "stop, stop, stop," when he saw the Brit walking towards the helicopter, but he "did not appear to listen".

Mr Kondylis added: "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."

He suggested the incident could lead to an "overhaul" in Greek safety rules.

“That was the question I asked the pilot and the ground engineers: why were the engines still running?” Mr Kondylis asked.

“And they responded they have two procedures, both approved by civil aviation.”

Mr Fenton's family, including father Miguel, right, have been devastated by the tragedy. Picture: Facebook
Mr Fenton's family, including father Miguel, right, have been devastated by the tragedy. Picture: Facebook

The first, he said, allowed passengers to disembark when the aircraft’s propellers were still in motion if doors were opened from the outside and ground staff escorted them to the terminus. The second required engines being switched off, The Guardian reports.

“I think as a precaution, for obvious safety reasons, we will be recommending the procedure is changed and the engines are turned off,” he added.

Mr Fenton's family, including father Miguel Fenton, who works as the head of marketing and PR and Tonbridge-based The Hop Farm, have been left devastated by the tragedy.

On Tuesday, his mother Victoria struggled to describe the loss of her "wonderful boy".

She explained: “Jack had travelled to Greece with some of his friends, a couple who were celebrating birthdays out there.”

His former school also paid tribute the the "popular" student following the tragic incident.

Mr Fenton was also a keen footballer who played in Maidstone leagues as a youngster.

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