Fall girl's father tells of ordeal

Gianna is in a stable condition in hospital on the Balearic island after suffering serious head injuries, a broken jaw and internal injuries in the fall.

Police are still searching for her mother, Sara, who disappeared after the accident in Calas de Majorca on Monday morning.

In a statement issued through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, her husband Ian said: "I would like to thank the staff at the Manacor and Son Dureta Hospitals in Majorca for the excellent care they are giving to my daughter, Gianna, and the support they have given to the family.

"Gianna is now in a stable condition and she continues to improve. I would also like to thank the police for their continued efforts in the search for my wife.

"Clearly this is a very difficult time for me and my family and although we understand the media interest in our situation, we would greatly appreciate it if we could be allowed the privacy to concentrate on the recovery of my daughter, Gianna, and on the search for my wife and the children's mother without further distractions."

Police in Majorca said on Wednesday that Mrs Cooper is still missing as they released a photograph of her to Spanish newspapers.

A spokesman said: "We have increased the number of police involved in the search. At the moment national police, local police and the emergency services are searching.

"Our priority is the area of Calas de Majorca. We are also looking at the coast and in the sea.

"We have spoken to the father and have an official statement. At the moment we believe that her disappearance is voluntary."