A HOLIDAYMAKER who broke his back in a fall from an apartment balcony died because he was neglected by Greek hospital staff, a coroner decided yesterday.

North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle told relatives of Christopher John Rochester, 24, that he was recording a verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect.

The coroner, who had earlier heard that the doctor who attended Mr Rochester may have been a trainee, said: "This clearly is a case of neglect and one where it was continuous.

"This is a case that has given me great concern about the standards of medical care that Christopher received while he was in Rhodes. I sincerely hope that lessons can be learned."

After the verdict, Mr Rochester's family vowed to bring the Greek staff to book through a possible civil action.

His stepfather, George Cummings, said: "Come hell or high water, we are determined that the medical staff on duty that night will be held responsible."

Family solicitor Terence Carney, said: "The family will now give consideration as to whether to pursue a civil action against the hospital authorities.

"The tragedy of this is that people go on holiday and don't expect to come back in a coffin."

The inquest heard how Mr Rochester was "left to die" after falling 40ft from a rooftop apartment.

He had to wait 40 minutes for an ambulance after the fall and was then bumped around the Regional General Hospital in Rhodes Town while he was in immense pain.

Mr Rochester, of Ullswater Road, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, had travelled to the island with a friend to stay with his brother, Keith, who was a nightclub DJ in the party district of Faliraki.

He had only been there for four days when the fatal fall occurred, after a night out drinking with friends, on June 10, last year.

His friend, David Vest, told the court how Christopher had screamed with pain as hospital porters crashed into doors as they took him on a stretcher to an orthopaedic ward.

Within hours he was dead.

Independent expert Professor Anthony Redmond expressed grave concerns that the doctor was a trainee, after reports from the Greek authorities suggested he was not fully qualified.