Young Holidaymakers Urged To Be More Sensible Following Number Of Deaths

With three deaths and 10 serious injuries from falls from balconies while on holiday, young British holidaymakers are being urged to act and drink more sensibly.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) have launched a campaign to try to reduce the number of young people involved in balcony incidents.

Nine of the incidents have occurred on the Spanish islands of Ibiza and Majorca, and all involved tourists aged between 18 and 35.

The number has already equalled the figure from last year, despite only being half way through the current season.

The three deaths all occurred after falls from hotel balconies in the resort of Magaluf.

About 3 million young people are expected to holiday abroad this summer with Spain, Greece and Turkey the favourite destinations. Those travelling to resorts are being handed leaflets about the dangers. They include the story of Jake Evans, 18, from Liverpool, who in May last year fell seven stories from a balcony in Magaluf, Majorca, after too many drinks and survived to tell the tale.

"I needed a lighter for a cigarette so I asked the balcony below. He threw a lighter up. I went to grab it, leaned out over the balcony and just went head first. I hit six or seven balconies on the way down and landed on plastic sun lounger."

He suffered a fractured skull, wrist and fingers, cuts on his face, split both eyelids and done permanent damage to his neck. "I am very lucky. I shouldn't be alive."

Paul Abrey, the head of the British consulate for the Balearic Islands, said: "This year there's been a particular spike early on in the holiday season with figures already matching last year's. Some people have fallen whilst climbing to a friend's apartment, others have simply lost their footing after a few too many drinks and a few have deliberately jumped off aiming for the pool below.

"It should go without saying these practices are extremely dangerous and can cost them their life or leave them permanently disabled. Many young people also arrive without travel insurance. The FCO can't pay medical bills and holidaymakers may end up paying out thousands for medical bills and flights back to the UK."

(H)