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'Stop, stop, stop': Investigator reveals Jack Fenton's FINAL moments before he was killed by spinning helicopter blade

Greek helicopter firm bosses and police had earlier suggested that Fenton may have breached safety instructions and died while using his mobile phone

ATHENS, GREECE: The British man killed by spinning helicopter blades in Greece was not trying to take a selfie, officials have confirmed. Jack Fenton, from Kent, died instantly when he was struck by a helicopter's rear motor near Athens on Monday evening, July 25, having just returned from Mykonos with friends. Distressing details about the final moments of the British tourist have been released by investigators. Greek helicopter firm bosses and police had earlier suggested that Jack may have breached safety instructions and died while using his mobile phone.

Police also ordered toxicology tests to establish whether Jack was drunk as his furious family and pals traveling with him hit back claiming he did not recklessly endanger himself. But the Greek capital’s accident investigation chief Ioannis Kondylis described Jack’s last moments in harrowing detail on July 27. According to WalesOnline, he confirmed that Fenton was not taking a selfie on his mobile phone when he died amid continuing concerns that he was not given a proper safety brief. 

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After interviewing the pilot and witnesses, Kondylis said, "From the testimonies we have collected, 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.” Kondylis revealed Jack 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. 

Kondylis continued, "We have taken statements from both the pilot and the two ground staff. 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 meters 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," he 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. 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,” he added. Kondylis said CCTV may now play a key role in confirming Jack’s last movements.

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,” according to a report by The Sun. 

Fenton, reported to have studied at Oxford Brookes University, was described as “very popular” by the headteacher of his former school in Maidstone, Kent.