A FAMILY has welcomed news of the planned prosecution of Greek hospital staff who they believe neglected their son prior to his death.

Three doctors and two nurses have been accused of homicide as a result of negligence in connection with the death of Christopher Rochester, from Chester-le-Street.

He died in hospital on the holiday island of Rhodes, hours after falling 40ft from a top floor flat of an apartment complex following a night out with friends in June 2000.

His family became concerned after discovering that it took 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive at the scene.

It also emerged that 24-year-old Mr Rochester was 'bumped around' while in immense pain awaiting treatment before being declared dead at hospital.

His family were further upset when his body was returned to Britain minus a kidney. When they complained a kidney was sent from Greece, but DNA tests proved it did not belong to Mr Rochester.

At an inquest in Durham last July, North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle said hospital staff 'ignored the most basic of procedures.'

He recorded a verdict of 'accidental death contributed by negligence.'

Mr Rochester's mother Pam Cummings and step-father George have campaigned for the Greek authorities to take action against the hospital staff involved.

Their cause has been backed by North Durham MP Kevan Jones and North-East Euro-MP Stephen Hughes.

They received confirmation of the charges in a letter from Alexandros Sandis, the Greek Ambassador in London, at the weekend.

"We're very pleased, but obviously it's with mixed emotions because this shouldn't have happened in the first place," said Mrs Cummings.

"It's given us hope that they are now taking it seriously and are going to do something about it.

"It's what we've been fighting for since Chris's death, because we knew immediately he shouldn't have died."

Mrs Cummings said she and her husband are keeping in touch with their solicitor in Greece and plan to attend any court hearing.

Mr Jones, the family's MP, said it was only their persistence which has taken the case this far.

"It's Mrs Cummings' tenacity which has got it to this stage.

"She's been determined that her son wouldn't just be another statistic and that the circumstances would be examined in a court of law, with the people responsible for his death held responsible."