Just days after the British and Balearic authorities launched their annual balcony safety campaigns, tragedy has struck in Magalluf.
The Guardia Civil are investigating the cause of death of a 34-year-old British tourist who fell from the seventh floor of a hotel in the resort this morning. This is the first fatal balcony accident in Mallorca this season.
Guardia Civil sources say that the tourist may have been under the influence of some kind of substance, as he was behaving strangely before the fall.
The accident took place just after 8am at the South Beach Hotel. Ambulances, the Guardia Civil, local police and doctors from the nearest medical centre rushed to the scene, but they were unable to save the Briton's life.
Investigators are now trying to interview his relatives and friends to try to clarify what happened. It appears that that the tourist was swinging from the railing of the seventh floor balcony, lost his balance and fell from a height of more than 15 metres.
The autopsy results will confirm whether the victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Last week, a 50-year-old British tourist was seriously injured after a fall from a second-floor terrace in Santa Ponsa. When Guardia Civil, Calvià local police officers and an ambulance arrived at the scene, the man was unconscious and reportedly stank of alcohol. The paramedics were able to stabilise him before transferring him to Son Espases Hospital. The Guardia Civil believe the man was drunk and fell off the terrace by accident.
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Here we go again. Drink and/or - and I suspect and - drugs that people can't handle. There are a lot of dodgy designer drugs in circulation that seem to be driving people totally bonkers. Same every year. Not just the alcohol people.
STM - I've stayed in hotels all over the world and never once felt the urge to start climbing on balconies, even after a few drinks. The problem is with the type of tourists these resorts attract, not the hotels. It doesn't happen in Cala Millor, puerto pollenca, cala rajada etc. Only at resorts that have 'Brits on the piss'.
I suggested previously that British resort hotels could build cages around the balconies. Or at least have some number of "British" Rooms with caged balconies. That would be a type of British "exceptionsalism", wouldn't it? It's a feature! Something special just for Brits 😎
Zoltan Teglas. Many Hotel Balconies in Hotels are unsuitable. They are too close together. Causing the drunken fools to try and cross from one to the other. Will the Hotels modify these Balconys? NO!!! Also many are totally inadequate if Familys have small children. Modify them too? NO !!!
Another case of DB censorship. ( see the dutchman at malgrats) Go to the article in Ultima Hora and watch the whole thing on video. This guy did not look drunk to me, his movements are too precise. more like he was either on drugs or had a mental problem of some kind.
Tragic. I'm not aware of this being practiced by any other nationality. What is it with Brits and balconies?
Stan - it always seems to be young drunk people that fall off balconies, never anyone else, so I think it's clear that the balconies are not the problem.
How many more idiotic drunken fools will die this Summer , from falling off a Balcony? Mainly dopey British Youths or ignorant young men. Is there sufficient warning?. Are the Balconys not safe.? These deaths happen every Summer. Can they all be blamed on Alcohol?.