Holidaymaker, 22, who fell to his death from the balcony of his Ibiza hotel had been trying to climb up to his room because the door was locked, inquest hears
- John McKenna was staying at the Azuline Hotel Llevant in San Antonio, Ibiza
A holidaymaker who tragically fell to his death from the balcony of his Ibiza hotel had been trying to climb up to his room because the door was locked, an inquest heard today.
Keen footballer John McKenna, 22, had been staying at the Azuline Hotel Llevant in the party resort of San Antonio when he was found on the ground outside with fatal head injuries.
Today an inquest into the electrician’s death on June 23 heard his room-mate had gone back to the hotel earlier in the night and gone to sleep, locking the door.
‘John had arrived home mid-morning and decided to go for breakfast,’ coroner Margaret Taylor told the hearing in Cockermouth, Cumbria.
‘After breakfast he found the apartment door locked and he couldn’t wake up his friend.
John McKenna, 22, from Carlisle in Cumbria, died after the fall yesterday morning in San Antonio, Ibiza
Electrician John was staying at the azuline Hotel Llevant when he fell from the balcony yesterday
‘He therefore went outside and saw that the balcony patio door was open.
‘He believed he could climb up on to the adjoining balcony and jump across on to his own, but very tragically during the jump he fell, sustaining a fatal head injury.’
The coroner adjourned the hearing to a later date, saying her office was ‘awaiting information from the authorities in Spain’.
His death is the latest in a string of British tourists who have died or suffered severe injuries while falling from balconies.
Described by heartbroken friends as ‘a true gent’, Mr McKenna is understood to have been staying on the third floor of the popular budget hotel.
Emergency responders were called to the scene at about 11am on June 23 but he was pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation by the authorities on the island was launched.
Mr McKenna lived in Crosby-on-Eden, near Carlisle.
Paying tribute after his death, his family said: ‘We will all miss his bright spark, wonderful smile and the ability to light up every room.’
Flowers and a football shirt were laid outside the pavilion of his Sunday football league club, Scotby FC.
He is understood to have played for Carlisle City Sunday League Premier side Scotby FC
A spokesman said the club had ‘lost a legend, a brilliant player but an even better person — never forgotten but loved always’.
Friends also took to social media to say they were ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by his sudden death.
Almost £28,000 has since been raised through an online JustGiving page to support his repatriation and the #JackTheLad Foundation.
This charity helps families who have lost loved ones in overseas accidents.
Just last month a British man lost his life after plunging from the second-floor balcony of an apartment in the same resort.
The unnamed 35-year-old had cheated death in a 30ft fall in San Antonio nearly five years earlier.
Last September 24-year-old Robyn-Eve Maines, from Wallasey, Merseyside died after plunging from a balcony at the Rosamar Hotel in Cala de Bou a short drive from San Antonio.
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