Family's fight over holiday death

Christopher Rochester died in hospital in Rhodes

The family of a County Durham man who died in a Greek hospital are taking their fight challenging his care to the country's ambassador.

Christopher Rochester, 24, died in 2000 after falling from a hotel balcony on the island of Rhodes.

The convictions of three doctors found negligent in treating him were quashed in February last year by three judges.

Since then the family has been waiting to get hold of the court papers so they can take the case to a higher level.

The family said once they get the documents they can apply to the Supreme High Court in Athens for the decision to be overturned and they are then hoping a full retrial will be ordered.

Missing kidney

Mr Rochester's step-father George Cummings said: "Since the three doctors were found not guilty in February 2005 we have been waiting for a written statement explaining why they were found not guilty plus a transcript of the appeal hearing.

"And what the family want is the release of these documents because until we get the documents we can't go in any direction."

As well as pressing for a retrial, the family have been trying to find out why Mr Rochester's kidney was missing when his body was returned to Britain.

On Tuesday the family along with their MP, Durham North's Kevan Jones, were meeting the Greek Ambassador in London.

Since the start of the case, they have had to fundraise to allow them to carry on.

Mr Cummings said: "There's just no question of this family giving up. People ask us why we go on and on, well we are doing this for Chris."