03 September 2023 , 19:49
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A British policewoman who died on holiday in Corfu was almost certainly killed by injuries from an "accidental fall", Greek authorities have said.
The 22-year-old woman, who has yet to be named but works for Surrey Police, had been staying on the island and was found on a side street in Kavos in the early hours of Friday. Leading coroner Ioannis Aivatidis said the woman likely died from a "low level fall", with an investigation into her death currently underway.
Speaking to The Mirror, Mr Aivatidis said he would be carrying out a full examination including toxicology tests on Monday after spending two hours at the scene on Friday. He said the woman sustained a severe head trauma, with no evidence she had been attacked.
“Her head injury was compatible with a low level accidental fall,” he said after rushing to Kavos where the young holidaymaker was discovered dead in a side street outside a bar in the early hours of Friday. “I examined her for at least two and a half hours [on the road] and I noted there was alcohol on her breath,” he said.
“She had only arrived on the island hours before so that raises questions.” Corfu police have already ruled out criminal involvement in her death, it was confirmed on Saturday.
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Surrey Police meanwhile issued a brief statement over the weekend, confirming one of its officers had tragically died on the island. A spokesperson said: "Yesterday we were sadly made aware of the sudden death of a serving officer whilst they were on holiday in Corfu, Greece.
"We are working to support both their family and their colleagues here during this extremely difficult time. An investigation into the circumstances of the death is being led by the Greek authorities and we await further updates from them as they conduct their enquiries."
Concerns were raised with Corfu police about the woman's phone which was thought to have gone missing at some point during the evening. Friends, who had travelled to the resort with her, told Greek authorities that at the time of her death she had been carrying her phone.
The device was later discovered “nearby”, making the accidental manner of her death “now much more possible,” the chief coroner added. “But the autopsy will be definitive. It will rule out other possible scenarios."
Greek media reports suggested that the young woman had laid bleeding possibly for hours before she was found. A spokesperson for the FCDO previously told The Mirror: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities”.