Pictured: British policewoman, 22, who plunged to her death while on holiday in Corfu – amid fears that she ‘may have unwittingly drunk alcohol laced with methanol’ before ‘accidental fall’
- Hannah Emily Byrne, 22, had been out on the first night of her holiday in Kavos
A British policewoman who plunged to her death while on holiday in Corfu has been named.
Hannah Emily Byrne, 22, had been out on the first night of her holiday in the Greek resort of Kavos when she suffered a fatal head injury after falling several metres in the early hours of Friday.
The officer, who was serving with Surrey Police, had decided to stay out while her colleague went back to their hotel on Friday night.
Greek authorities believe the fatal injuries she sustained outside a bar are compatible with an ‘accidental fall’.
But authorities on the island are now investigating whether the victim had unwittingly drunk alcohol that had been laced with methanol, which is much more toxic than the ethanol found in regular alcoholic drinks.
Hannah Emily Byrne, 22, had been out on the first night of her holiday in the Greek resort of Kavos when she suffered a fatal head injury after falling several metres
Leading coroner Ioannis Aivatidis told The Sun: ‘There are questions as to what kind of alcohol she consumed. Had it been illicitly tampered with?
‘Was she so intoxicated because [illegal] methanol was in the alcoholic drinks she had consumed? The answer lies in the toxicology tests that will be carried out.’
Aivatidis said he would be carrying out further examinations of the 22-year-old’s body including toxicology tests today.
The Brit was allegedly left bleeding on the street – possibly for hours – before she was found, according to Greek media.
Ms Byrne’s friends, who had travelled to Corfu on holiday with the victim, had told Corfu police that her phone was missing at some point during Friday night, suggesting that it might have been stolen.
But her mobile was found ‘nearby’, making the accidental manner of her death ‘now much more possible’, Aivatidis said. ‘But the autopsy will be definitive. It will rule out other possible scenarios.’
Her stepfather, who is also a police officer, is expected to arrive on the island to repatriate the policewoman’s body back to the UK this week.
Ms Byrne’s friends, who had travelled to Corfu on holiday with the victim, had told Corfu police that her phone was missing at some point during Friday night, suggesting that it might have been stolen
Surrey Police said in a statement on Saturday: ‘Yesterday we were sadly made aware of the sudden death of a serving office 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.’
The Surrey Police Federation echoed these sentiments and said the police officer’s death was ‘devastating’.
It added: ‘The thoughts of all at Surrey Police Federation are with the officer’s family, friends and close colleagues at this time. Both the Federation and the force are supporting them.’
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told MailOnline: ‘We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities’.
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