Investigators say British tourist, 22, was not taking selfie before horror helicopter death

Investigators probing a British tourist’s horror helicopter death have told for the first time how he was killed.

Investigators probing a British tourist’s horror helicopter death have told for the first time how he was killed — and revealed he was not taking a selfie.

Holiday-maker Jack Fenton, 22, died of appalling head injuries after stepping into a spinning rear rotor of a chopper which flew him to Athens, Greece, on Monday.

Greek helicopter firm bosses and police had suggested accounts executive Jack may have breached safety instructions and died while using his mobile phone, The Sun reports.

Police also ordered toxicology tests to establish whether Jack was drunk — as his furious family and friends travelling with him hit back claiming he did not recklessly endanger himself.

But the Greek capital’s accident investigation chief Ioannis Kondylis has now described Mr Fenton’s last moments in harrowing detail.

And he confirmed the tragic former public schoolboy was not taking a mobile phone snap when he died — amid continuing concerns that he was not given a proper safety brief.

“From the testimonies we have collected, it does not appear from anywhere that the young man wanted to take a selfie,” Mr Kondylis said on Wednesday night after interviewing the pilot and witnesses.

“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.”

British tourist Jack Fenton. Picture: Facebook

Mr Kondylis revealed Mr Fenton exited the Bell 407 craft at Lolo Airfield near Spata, Athens from the right door shortly after it landed — but returned to it and ducked under the tail of the craft.

But as he stooped he must not have seen the invisible — and lethal — rear rotor spinning at up to 500 revolutions per second.

“We have taken statements from both the pilot and the two ground staff,” Mr Kondylis said.

“These are testimonies that must then be cross-referenced. According to them, it appears that all the regulations stipulated by the helicopter’s manual were observed.

“One ground employee went to the left door, one to the right, they disembarked and escorted them 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.

“When one of the ground staff saw him walking towards the helicopter he shouted loudly in English ‘stop, stop, stop’ but he didn’t listen.

“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.

The 22-year-old was killed by a helicopter rotor blade. Picture: Facebook

“The young man, according to the statements, had exited through the right door and did not head back to his seat. He went under the tail section of the helicopter and ended up on the left side where he was hit by the rotor, which at the speed it was turning was not visible.”

Mr Kondylis said CCTV may now play a key role in confirming Mr Fenton’s last movements.

And police now believe he may have strayed into the rotor after going to retrieve his mobile phone after leaving it on board.

“There is a camera outside the hall,” Mr Kondylis added.

“We do not know if this camera has a memory card. Yesterday afternoon we submitted a request to the police to examine whether there is audiovisual material, which would help the most in understanding the circumstances of the accident.”

A Greek Police spokesman said, “Our investigation is continuing but one of the major areas that we are exploring is that Jack forgot his mobile phone on the helicopter and that’s why he suddenly returned to it.

“We are still in the process of completing our interviews but a number of eyewitnesses saw him with a mobile phone in his hand, moments before he was killed.

“Once our investigation has been completed, we will send the file to the prosecutor who will decide if there are to be any charges.”

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission