Tragedy as dad-of-two dies in Crete as urgent warning issued to holidaymakers

A coroner has issued an urgent warning to holidaymakers travelling to Greece this summer after the tragic death of a much-loved father-of-two.

Andrew Story, 56, drowned in the sea while on holiday on the Greek island of Crete. The tragedy happened on October 12 last year when he entered the water in Rethymno, Crete. He was said to have been in the water for just a few minutes before a bystander was seen giving him CPR on the beach.

Mr Story, from Frodsham, Cheshire, was taken to hospital by paramedics, but pronounced dead later. A post-mortem examination carried out in Greece found he died after drowning in sea water. Another post-mortem, conducted in the UK, cited drowning, but also referenced left ventricular hypertrophy, which is often the result of high blood pressure and can cause heart problems.

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Now, after an inquest into his death, a coroner has written to authorities in Greece, through the Foreign Office, to raise her concerns over beach safety in the area.

Jacqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, has now issued a 'prevention of future deaths' report to the 'Greek authorities'. The Coroners and Justice Act 2009 gives coroners the opportunity to make reports to a person, organisation, local authority or Government department or agency where they believe action should be taken to prevent future deaths.

The report states the conclusion of the inquest was accidental death but says Greek authorities could have done more to prevent his death, reports The Echo.

Ms Devonish references a lack of lifeguards and red warning signs on the beach. The sea in the area was described as 'particularly rough'. Her report reads: "It was