Latest news with #balconyfall
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
British tourist named after fatal fall from balcony in Malta
A British tourist who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Malta has been named by police. Kieran Thomas Hughes from Gwynedd in Wales fell from a balcony at the Cavalieri Art Hotel in St Julian's, a town on the east of the island, in the early hours of Friday morning (11 July). Emergency services attended but the 25-year-old died at the scene. His father, Alan Hughes, said the family was grateful for kind messages they had received but asked for privacy. He added that the family were awaiting further information from Malta Police, which is undertaking the investigation. Mr Hughes said that Keiran, who had a twin brother, worked as a software engineer and had 'a promising career ahead of him'. A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office confirmed they are in touch with the local authorities following Kieran's death. Siân Gwenllian, the Welsh Senedd member for Arfon, said: 'News of the death of a 25-year-old man from Gwynedd in Malta is truly devastating. 'The pain his family must be experiencing is unimaginable. 'My thoughts, and those of the people of Gwynedd, are with them in their grief.'
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Brit dad, 24, suffers a broken spine in horror drunken Ayia Napa hotel fall after trying to leap between two balconies
A BRIT dad has been left with a broken spine after plunging 30ft from a balcony in Ayia Napa. Sam Hudson, 24, from Lincoln, was on holiday with his brother and a pal when he tried to leap between two balconies while drunk at the popular Cypriot resort. 4 4 4 The decorator and dad to a two-year-old boy was spotted by a passerby trying to walk between balconies last Sunday evening. Sam was leaving a pool party at the Anmaria Beach Hotel - where he was staying. He is thought to have been trying to reach his brother's room next door - but the details are unclear, as Sam says he can't remember events before the fall. The passerby phoned emergency services after they saw Sam fall from the balcony. While witnesses say the holidaymaker fell from a second floor of his hotel, the fall was reportedly as high as from the third floor with it being around 30ft, onlookers believe. He was rushed to a local clinic before being transferred to the island's biggest hospital, Nicosia General Hospital. Sam is currently hospitalised in Cyprus after breaking his pelvis, part of his spine and his leg. The Brit faces medical bills running into the tens of thousands - after it emerged he hadn't taken out any travel insurance. Cops have launched an investigation into the accident. His stepmother, Karen, and her husband flew out the next day to be with their son who at the time was in pain and heavily medicated. Brit tourist, 18, fighting for life after third floor balcony plunge in Ibiza as he's airlifted to hospital The family started a GoFundMe to help with medical costs after they had to choose between paying between £30,000 to £60,000 for a repatriation plane or staying in Cyprus for Sam's recovery. In the description of the crowdfunding page, his family says: "This is a devastating situation for both Sam and his family. "Sam has a two-year-old son who's missing his daddy deeply, and Sam is heartbroken that he can't be there with him. "He's not only a father, but also a son and a brother—now stranded, in pain, and feeling isolated so far from home." Over £4,100 has been raised so far. His mum Karen has also spoken out on her son's devastating fall as she told MailOnline: "You know what young boys are like but I never could have predicted something like this would happen. "Doctors at the hospital have said he's lucky to be alive or to not have more severe damage." She added: "We told him so many times before he left that he needed to get travel insurance but he didn't listen. "I want the government to make it a legal requirement that all young people must have travel insurance before travelling because I don't another family to have to go through what we have. "I've heard of families having to remortgage their house or sell their car to cover costs of accidents like this - all because they didn't think to take out insurance." Sam's accident comes weeks after another Brit fell from a hotel balcony in Marbella. The unnamed man was reportedly fighting for his life after falling from the balcony onto a public street at 5am. Police have interviewed the three friends who were with the tourist, who is described in reports as being young. Reports suggest that over 100 people have died from 'balconing' - the dangerous act of jumping or falling from hotel balconies, mostly carried out by young British men - in Spain's Balearic Islands over the past two decades. Several hundred more have been seriously injured. What is balconing? BALCONING is a dangerous practice that emerged in Spain, typically involving foreign tourists. It refers to two behaviours: jumping into a swimming pool from a balcony falling from height while climbing from one balcony to another The term combines the Spanish word balcón (meaning "balcony") with the English suffix '-ing'. Often, those involved are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the British Foreign Office and Spanish doctor Juan José Segura, the 'average practitioner' is a 24-year-old British male. Over the years, numerous people have lost their lives attempting balconing. Authorities strongly warn against this dangerous and potentially fatal activity. 4
CBC
17-06-2025
- CBC
Ontario's police watchdog investigating after person falls to death from Toronto balcony
Ontario's police watchdog is investigating after a person fell to their death from a Toronto balcony early Tuesday morning, police say. The incident happened around 2 a.m., Toronto police spokesperson Laura Brabant said in an email. Officers responded to a call for a person in crisis near Church Street and The Esplanade. The person in crisis fell from a balcony and "succumbed to their injuries," Brabant said. Three officers suffered non-life threatening injuries during the incident, she said. Paramedics said they were called to 1 Church Street around 2:20 a.m. after reports of a fall. An adult man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, they said. Church Street is currently closed from Front Street to The Esplanade.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Teen, 19, fighting for life after falling from balcony ‘while fleeing cops' as boy, 14, raced to hospital
A TEENAGER is fighting for his life in hospital after falling from a balcony while allegedly fleeing police. The 19-year-old man suffered critical injuries after falling off an "upper balcony from height" in Tameside, Manchester, said cops. A 14-year-old boy was also seriously injured in the same fall on Saturday night, according to Greater Manchester Police. It came after police received reports of a "group of males with machetes making threats towards individuals" at the location. Upon arrival, at around 7.20pm, officers gave chase to three males who "tried to leave" the property, with one of the three escaping through a lower balcony. The 19-year-old who fell from the balcony then sustained serious injuries. Footage from the scene showed emergency services at the foot of Bentinck House, a 12 storey tower block on the outskirts of Ashton town centre. Three people have been arrested and drugs and a weapon have also been seized, said police. Witnesses reported seeing armed police and an air ambulance at the scene. Det Supt Gareth Jenkins from the Tameside District said: "The two injured parties, aged 14 and 19, have been taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries, with the older male in a critical condition. "These males are under the detention of officers pending their medical treatment, and another male has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs. 'Enquiries are ongoing to determine all of those involved and the full circumstances of what has happened in the lead up to the incident. Suspected drugs and a weapon have been recovered. "A small scene remains in place at the property and residents in the area should expect to see further police activity. "Anyone with any information which has not yet been provided to us, or with any concerns, should speak to officers on the ground. "I'd like to reassure the community that this incident is believed to be between individuals known to one another, with no wider risk to the community." Police are looking for any witnesses to come forward with any information that could aid their inquiries. Anyone with information is being urged to call 101 quoting incident number 2849 of May 31 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mum says letting daughter, 8, play on balcony before she fell to death 'biggest mistake' of her life
An eight-year-old girl died after falling to her death from the sixth-floor balcony of her mother's home, an inquest has heard. Minnie Rae Dunn, who lived with her grandmother, was at her mum Rebecca Dunn's home in Portmousth on August 23, 2023, when she suffered the fatal fall. An inquest into Minnie Rae's death, held on Wednesday, heard the youngster had gone out to play on the 'cluttered' balcony, which had eight bin bags and a pouffe chair, with another girl. READ MORE: Liverpool crash suspect's neighbours speak out as wife 'found out after seeing car on TV' READ MORE: 'Twisted mum' arranged for child rapist stay over to rape daughter, 12 Giving evidence at the hearing, Ms Dunn said that she would sometimes go on to the balcony when she visited and described her daughter as 'sassy' and a 'good kid'. The inquest was told that the balcony had a brick wall about a metre high with anti-pigeon netting above. Ms Dunn said that the chair was normally against the window but had been moved against the wall by someone who had gone out for a cigarette. She told the inquest that she initially refused to let her daughter and the girl go on to the balcony that day. Ms Dunn added: 'She did ask to go out, I did say no at first but they got slime all over the bed. I am a sucker for her eyes and ended up giving in and that was the biggest mistake of my life.' Ms Dunn admitted that she had smoked cannabis earlier in the day. The inquest heard that Ms Dunn told police that it did not make her 'drowsy' but made her 'calm'. She told the hearing: 'I did it for my mental health, it's not like I smoked it all day.' Coroner Jason Pegg asked Ms Dunn: 'Do you think it impacted on your ability to look after Minnie Rae?' to which she answered: 'No.' Ms Dunn added that she had not been able to 'grieve yet' for her daughter and said that she was an 'emotional mess'. The other girl told police that she had attempted to grab Minnie Rae as she fell and said: 'I couldn't hold on, my hand slipped off as she was moving really fast", the hearing heard. The coroner told the inquest that a neighbour reported seeing Minnie Rae standing up on something before she fell. An air ambulance was called to the scene, but Minnie Rae sadly died from multiple injuries. Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Mr Pegg said: 'This was a desperately dreadful and tragic accident.' He added: 'I am going to record that Minnie Rae had been playing on the balcony and in that time elevated herself on an object which had been left on the balcony causing Minnie Rae to fall over the balcony wall.' Paying tribute to Minnie, Ms Dunn said in a statement previously released through police: 'My angel, I am going to miss your sassiness and the way you spoke your mind. 'Your big bright smile that always melted my heart will be missed so much. 'I have a hole shape in my heart that will always be there. My little angel fly high, I love you to the moon and back. Mummy.' Hampshire Constabulary previously confirmed that a 43-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of neglect was released without charge.
