A BRITISH policewoman on holiday in Corfu may have drunk a toxic drink illegally mixed with methanol before plunging to her death.
PC Hannah Emily Byrne, 22, was found dead with a head injury on the first day of her holiday in the Greek resort of Kavos.
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Hannah Byrne died while on holiday in Greece
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Her family praised her as ‘beautiful inside and out’
She decided to stay out on Friday night while her colleague went back to the hotel.
But Hannah, who served with Surrey Police, was later found dead by a passer-by near a main road after hitting her head on a fall of several metres.
Authorities in Corfu are now investigating whether she drank the tainted drink hours after arriving on the holiday island.
Corfu’s chief medical officer, who first examined Hannah, from Reigate, told The Sun he detected alcohol on her breath.
Yannis Aivatidis said she died “just a few hours” after arriving in the area.
He said: “There are questions about what type of alcohol she consumed. Was it tampered with?
“Was she that drunk because [illegal] of methanol in alcoholic beverages that she consumed?
“The answer lies in the toxicology tests that will be conducted.”
Bars and clubs in Greece are known for putting pure alcohol in alcoholic drinks to make the drinks go further.
Authorities on the island announced on Sunday after raids in Kavos that 28 bars would be closed after they were found to have been serving counterfeit alcohol – and that customers had not drunk mixed liquor.
Well-placed sources described the arrests as “more than coincidental” given that they came hours after the policewoman’s death.
Hannah’s heartbroken family described her as “kind and caring” in an emotional tribute.
They said: “Our beloved Hannah was beautiful inside and out.
“She was extremely kind, witty, caring and had a genuine zest for life.”
A UK source told The Sun last night: “Hannah was a dedicated and responsible young PC.
“Her colleagues, friends and family can’t wait to find out what’s behind this.”
Kavos has long been a favorite among young Britons, attracting the largest number of visitors every year.
The coroner said Monday’s autopsy showed Hannah fell several feet.
Aivatidis added: “Findings included fractures of the chest, stomach and a small rupture of the spleen.
“But she was killed by a traumatic head injury.”
Aivatidis said that while the findings ruled out criminal involvement, it was unclear whether the officer was with friends at the time of her “accidental death.”
He added: “I believe she may have confused the building she was staying in and may have fallen trying to enter the one in front of which she was found in an unusual manner.
“What remains unclear is now a part [police probe] did her friends leave her after the fall.”
Her stepfather, who is also a police officer, is expected to arrive in Corfu to repatriate Hannah’s body later this week.
Chief Superintendent Chris Colley, divisional commander for East Surrey, said: “Hannah’s death has come as a shock to everyone who knew her.
“She was a bright, enthusiastic and respected officer just at the beginning of her police career and she will be sadly missed.
“As a force, we are now doing everything we can to support her family and her colleagues at this extremely difficult time.”
Surrey Police said: “We are working to support both their family and their colleagues at this extremely difficult time.
“The circumstances surrounding the death are being investigated by the Greek authorities and we await further updates from them as they carry out their investigation.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of the British woman who died in Greece and are in contact with the local authorities.”
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