THE BRITISH bases were still reeling yesterday after the death RAF Corporal and his two young children, who were killed when their Akrotiri home burned to the ground at the weekend.
Spokesman Captain Crispin Coates said there was as yet no indication as to the cause of the fire.
“There is a major effort to find out but people are still shocked,” he said.
Coates said he could not comment on the speculation surrounding the fire that killed Corporal Andy Greenough, 37 and his son, Evan, aged 5. It is understood that Greenough’s young daughter who is believed to be aged two has not formally been identified. Greenough’s wife was not home at the time.
The fire broke out at the family’s house in the married quarters at Akrotiri at around 9pm but spread too rapidly to be contained or for the family to be rescued.
“It was an exceptionally fast and hot fire,” a source at RAF Akrotiri told The Scotsman newspaper. It really raged through the premises. The firemen were shocked at the speed of it.”
There is no suspicion of foul play.
Relatives of the family, who had been in Cyprus for two and a half years of a three-year tour, are believe to have flown in on Sunday.
A statement from the British Ministry of Defence yesterday said it could confirm that a house fire at RAF Akrotiri “has tragically resulted in the death of RAF Corporal Andy Greenough, 37 and his son, Evan, aged 5.”
A third person was also killed in the fire, it said. “However formal identification has not yet taken place. The cause of the incident is currently being investigated.”
According to the Ministry, Greenough worked for the Cyprus Service Support Unit. He was a member of the RAF for 17. It said he was enjoying a successful career and had been strongly recommended for promotion in 2007. He had served in the Falkland Islands and during his time in Cyprus, he played an active role in supporting visiting Tornado squadrons.
“The whole of the British Forces Cyprus community has been deeply saddened by this tragic event and our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies, are with the family and friends of Corporal Greenough at this most difficult time,” the statement said.
Commanding Officer Cyprus Service Support Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Kavanagh, said:
“Cpl Andy Greenough was a committed member of the RAF who was a popular and enthusiastic member of the community. His dedication and loyalty to his work were only surpassed by his love for his family. Andy leaves behind many friends and colleagues who will miss him deeply.”
The bases spokesman did not want to speculate yesterday on whether the age of the homes in Akrotiri, some of which date from the fifties and sixties had played any part in the rapid spread of the fire.
A report published in Britain several years ago said thousands of army personnel were living in cramped 1950s buildings in dire need of maintenance. The report related to 18,000 MoD properties abroad, 90 per cent of which are in Cyprus.
Some time later the British bases announced the construction of new accommodation for its personnel in Cyprus under what was called ‘Project Aphrodite’, a multi-million pound 25-year project to provide accommodation for service personnel in the bases.
The estimated value of the housing project is in the region of £540 million. The bases announced that the project would involve the creation of 1,700 married quarters and 1,300 single quarters.
??
??
??
??
