Crisis meeting over Magaluf balcony deaths

British consulate called in as authorities investigate alarming number of falls at hotels in the party resort

BRITISH diplomats have been summoned to Magaluf to help investigate an alarming increase in fatal falls from hotel balconies at the resort.

Emergency talks were arranged today after a British teenager became the latest victim of a fall from a hotel room. Danny Shimell, 19, survived a 75ft-fall hours after England’s World Cup win over Colombia but is in intensive care at the local hospital.

The skateboarder and amateur rugby player was on holiday in the resort with his girlfriend and other friends when the accident happened. He was taken to hospital, where he re- mains in a serious condition.

Authorities in Magaluf have invited representatives of the British consulate, the Palmanova-magaluf Hotel Association and central government to discuss the worrying number of such falls on the Majorcan party hotspot. In the past three months, two Britons have died in falls there. In June, Tom Hughes, 20, from Wales, died at an apartment block that he is thought to have mistaken for his hotel.

In April, Natalie Cormack, 19, a Scottish bar worker, died at the same apartment block after trying to edge her way along an overhang to her room, having locked herself out. She fell seven floors to her death. A glass panel has since been installed at the block to prevent a similar tragedy.

Last month, a 22-year-old British holidaymaker lost several teeth as well as suffering a broken leg and broken jaw in a fall from the BH Majorca in Magaluf, a hotel popular with the stars of Love Island and Hollyoaks.

On Monday, a French teenager died from injuries sustained following a fall from a hotel balcony in the same resort.

A spokesman for Calvia council, which covers the Magaluf area, confirmed that the purpose of the meeting was to examine the number of balcony falls, with this year’s toll already higher than 2017.

She said: “Given the concern about the number of people killed or injured in falls in the last few weeks, principally in the Punta Ballena area, Calvia council has called a meeting to analyse the problem, gather together all the information possible and see what more can be done.”

Sebastian Darder, president of the local hotel association, said he had asked police and other authorities to clarify if recent casualties had consumed drugs that could have caused hallucinations.

Local council officials are expected to use the meeting to repeat their longstanding demands that regional governors crack down on the excessive consumption of alcohol by tourists flocking to Magaluf. Andreu Serra, Calvia’s deputy mayor, reiterated yesterday during a radio interview that changes – like the banning of happy hours – were needed.

He also demanded regional government intervention in the practice of including alcohol in all-inclusive package holidays.