A Welsh engineer who fell from a holiday balcony may not have even known what was happening to him as he plunged to his death, an inquest has heard.
Kieran Hughes died after falling from a balcony while on holiday, with a post-mortem examination revealing a substantial level of alcohol in his blood at the time of his death. The inquest has been examining the circumstances that led to the fatal fall.
Giving evidence, experts suggested that the level of alcohol found in Hughes could have significantly impaired his awareness and reactions, meaning he may not have been conscious of the danger he was in or even realised he was falling before he died.
The post-mortem findings painted a picture of a man whose judgement and physical coordination would have been severely compromised. At the alcohol levels recorded, a person can lose their sense of balance, struggle to assess risk, and react far too slowly to sudden changes in their surroundings.
Balcony falls remain one of the most common causes of serious injury and death among British holidaymakers abroad. Campaigners have long called for tougher regulations around balcony heights and safety barriers at holiday resorts, arguing that many properties do not meet adequate safety standards.
The inquest continues, with the coroner expected to hear further evidence before reaching a conclusion on the full circumstances surrounding Kieran Hughes death.
Honestly that’s so sad. At least if that’s true he didn’t suffer the fear of knowing what was happening. Poor bloke and his family, can’t imagine what they’re going through.