Greek island death was 'unlawful'

Matthew Cryer was on holiday with friends

The death of a 17-year-old from Derbyshire on a Greek island was unlawful, a coroner has ruled.

Matthew Cryer sustained head injuries outside a bar in Zante on 21 July 2008. It was initially claimed his injuries had been caused by excessive drinking.

But the Chesterfield coroner concluded Matthew had been unlawfully killed and criticised Greek authorities for failing to find out how he was hurt.

His parents said they now hoped the death would be thoroughly investigated.

He was getting pulled down the stairs by two bouncers Kelly Holmes, witness

Jo Froud, Matthew's mother, said: "We are very satisfied with the verdict of unlawful killing but it saddens us greatly that Matthew's death was so needless."

Sheffield Wednesday fan Matthew had gone to Greece after completing a college course and had been working at a Burger King branch in Sheffield to fund his education.

The teenager, from Killamarsh, died outside the Cocktails and Dreams nightclub in Laganas.

Post-mortem examinations were carried out both in Greece and by a Home Office pathologist in Britain.

Matthew had sustained 20 separate injuries and widespread bruising was found on his body.

Heart removed

Witnesses told the inquest Matthew had been violently thrown on to the street by doormen.

Kelly Holmes, from Essex, said: "He was getting pulled down the stairs by two bouncers."

She said the men had acted aggressively toward her friends when they had tried to help Matthew.

Ms Holmes said she was surprised the ambulance had only arrived to collect Matthew an hour after it had been called.

His parents said they had been shocked at the poor healthcare on the island.

Before the funeral it emerged that Matthew's body was returned to his family from Greece without his heart.

Matthew's parents are urging witnesses to contact Derbyshire Police.

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Greek island death was 'unlawful'