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Inside Ibiza ‘death hotel' on lockdown after two Brits die in a month… as rooftop guards watch tourists & parties banned
Inside Ibiza ‘death hotel' on lockdown after two Brits die in a month… as rooftop guards watch tourists & parties banned

Scottish Sun

time7 days ago

  • Scottish Sun

Inside Ibiza ‘death hotel' on lockdown after two Brits die in a month… as rooftop guards watch tourists & parties banned

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IBIZA Rocks is on lockdown after its fourth death in just three months - with parties cancelled, heightened security and night-time patrols. Staff at the popular San Antonio party spot are on edge - with non-guests banned from the hotel and security guards pacing the roof with torches at night. 14 At least seven holidaymakers have lost their lives at Ibiza Rocks Hotel Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 14 The infamous hotel is known for hosting major events for partygoers 14 Security guards have been patrolling the roof at night and beaming torches at anyone messing around on balconies Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 14 Gary Kelly's death at Ibiza Rocks Hotel prompted all events to be suspended After a spate of tragic tourist deaths at the hotel, The Sun visited the infamous resort. At least seven holidaymakers have died at Ibiza Rocks - dubbed the "Death Hotel". And the death of two Brits - Evan Thomson, 26, and Gary Kelly, 19 - in just three weeks sparked the cancellation of all upcoming events "out of respect". While the hotel's pool is still packed with party-goers, security guards have ramped up patrols - particularly at night - and blocked off the entrance to the building. Hotel guest Layla Right, 25, from Newcastle, revealed how staff have been patrolling the roof at night and beaming torches at anyone "d*****g around" on the balconies. She told us: "As soon as they see anyone being silly on the balconies, they flash the torch straight at them. "They must be terrified of it happening again. "There was an Australian bloke hanging off the balcony earlier and they were onto him in a flash." Layla said it was 'eerie' the morning after Gary died - but added that the atmosphere is back to normal now. And she said guests are under the impression that the events will be resumed this week. Teen holidaymaker, 19, plunges to his death in horror fall just days after Scots tourist died at SAME Ibiza hotel Layla's pal Lee, 30, bumped into Gary's heartbroken friends outside the hotel after the tragedy on July 21. Gary plunged from a third floor balcony at the four-star hotel - and paramedics could do nothing to save him at the scene. Lee said: 'You could see they were absolutely devastated. "And they're still staying there now - they've said they know it's what he would have wanted. 'So they've stayed on to honour his memory.' Gary - a keen ice hockey player - had arrived just hours before he died and police are still investigating his death. Two weeks earlier, Evan Thomson, 26, from Aberdeen, died in similar circumstances after a fall from a sixth-floor balcony. Evan's loved ones slammed the hotel's response in the following days. They claimed they were stuck in an office for hours without answers and heard pressure washers cleaning the spot where he fell just 90 minutes after he fell. The hotel has temporarily cut its daytime DJ party programme, which usually pumps out music by the pool until 8pm. But £18 tickets are currently available online for non-guests for the 'Love Juice Ibiza Day Party - which happens every Saturday. 14 Sun man Patrick Harrington outside the notorious Ibiza Rocks Hotel Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 14 The Ibiza Rocks Hotel in San Antonio - where two Brits have died just months apart Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 14 Fellow Brit Evan Thomson died just over two weeks before Kelly in similar tragic circumstances 14 The letter put under the door to all residents of the Ibiza Rocks hotel following the latest balcony death. Credit: Doug Seeburg Harry Harknett, 25, from Bedfordshire, checked into Ibiza Rocks on Monday just hours after Gary's death - to find a letter offering them compensation. He said: 'We weren't told anything about the death by the hotel, which felt a bit odd. "The first I knew about it was when I looked at the news, and I'd already checked in by then. 'We got a letter under the bedroom door explaining that the events have been cancelled due to 'unforeseen circumstances', and offering everyone compensation. 'Other than a strong security presence, you wouldn't know anything had happened. "The vibe is still upbeat inside - the pool was absolutely packed at 2pm today." The pool and dancefloor are usually accessible to non-guests if they buy a day pass, but The Sun was turned away when we tried to buy one on Wednesday. And security guards have taken up positions on the street - meaning you can't get within 40 metres of the hotel entrance without a booking. Jack Cairns, 27, from Southampton, is staying with four mates for a week at Ibiza Rocks and arrived on Sunday - a day before Gary fell. He said: 'It's so sad. Not what you want to hear when you get to a hotel. 'I don't know how it happened exactly [to Gary]. But I do think the railings on the balconies could be higher. 'Some of the third-floor balconies have railings that are barely waist height. "When it's a party hotel, it makes sense to have more than that.' 14 Several victims have fallen to their deaths from balconies in the past at Ibiza Rocks Credit: Darren Fletcher 14 The hotel is frequently visited by celebs including Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling and Stormzy 14 Craig David performing at the iconic venue Credit: Supplied Harry called for higher barriers around the balconies - something 'up around chest height'. Jack continued: 'I've definitely noticed that security ramped up. "You see them patrolling the corridors which they didn't do before. 'Most people know what's happened because all the events have been cancelled - which is the main reason most people booked the place.' Some guests staying at the hotel had heard nothing of the recent deaths until they were approached by The Sun. Evan's friends said the hotel's handling of the situation was "horrific" on the night he died. His pal Blair Robertson, 25, told Press and Journal: "We heard the jet washes from the ground cleaning the area where Evan died and it had only been 90 minutes or so since he was found. "That was the worst thing for us to hear – how fast they tried to get things back to normal." Another pal, James Shand, said: "Seeing them post 'are you all ready for the next event?' within hours of it happening was sickening. "If something like this happened in the UK, the place would get shut down." 14 Mum Amy, 23, died at the hotel in her sleep after going out partying Credit: Facebook 14 Mum Amy, 23, died at the hotel in her sleep after going out partying Credit: Facebook Two deaths rocked Ibiza in April when a British woman collapsed and died in her room. Paramedics and police rushed to the hotel but pronounced the 33-year-old dead after 40 minutes trying to resuscitate her. Just three days earlier, a 19-year-old Italian tourist died after she fell from the fourth-floor of the hotel. The woman is said to have been partying late into the night before returning to her room and finding she was locked out. In August 2020, another incident saw a young woman pass away in her sleep as she stayed at the hotel. Amy Connor, 23, had been sunbathing with her sister and their friends before heading back to her room to shower and have a nap. The seventh reported death at Ibiza Rocks dates back to 2008. British holidaymaker Michael Robertson, 23, collapsed at the hotel after taking ecstasy. He was rushed to the Can Misses Hospital but passed away suffering repeated heart failure. After Gary's death, Ibiza Rocks said in a statement: "The safety and well-being of our guests has, and always will remain, our highest priority. "Given the seriousness of the situation and out of respect for those involved, we believe it is right to pause our advertised events programme at this time." Full statement from Ibiza Rocks When approached for a comment, Ibiza Rocks said: "The tragic incidents of the past few weeks have deeply affected many. "We continue to work closely with the authorities and our thoughts and support remain with everyone impacted. "Much of the hard work that goes into safety and security in hotels and venues across the world happens behind closed scenes. "With thousands of guests passing through our doors every summer, it takes a collective effort from our team, security and local partners to maximise safety for all. "In times like these, care matters - but so does action. "We have zero tolerance for any behaviour that puts our guests or our team at risk and we are building on the strong work we already do to go even further. "Out of respect and privacy for the people involved, we don't usually comment on individual reports posted online, but that certainly doesn't mean we're not always listening. "We're committed to working with anyone who raises solid concerns so that we can establish the facts and take the appropriate steps. "Our hotel remains open and more information on the future events programme will be shared as soon as possible."

Inside bloodstained Ibiza party hotel where two guests died within days and revellers ‘snort coke off loungers'
Inside bloodstained Ibiza party hotel where two guests died within days and revellers ‘snort coke off loungers'

Scottish Sun

time21-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Scottish Sun

Inside bloodstained Ibiza party hotel where two guests died within days and revellers ‘snort coke off loungers'

A former rugby league star and a young mum are among the Brits to have tragically died at the party hotspot in heartbreaking, or at times violent, circumstances ROCKED BY SCANDAL Inside bloodstained Ibiza party hotel where two guests died within days and revellers 'snort coke off loungers' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S a world-famous venue known for its wild poolside parties, youthful crowds and sun-soaked performances by A-listers like Stormzy, Craig David, Becky Hill and Ed Sheeran. But amid the blaring beats, Spain's Ibiza Rocks Hotel has played host to a string of tragedies - from horrific balcony plunges to the violent death of a British ex-rugby league star. 14 Party hotel Ibiza Rocks has been hit by a series of deaths Credit: Alamy 14 It's frequently visited by celebs including Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling and Stormzy 14 Ibiza Rocks fan Haneih Vidmar, left, speaks to The Sun about her time partying at the hotel with friends and family Credit: Supplied 14 Haneih always went VIP so she 'got the best view' Credit: Supplied Two weeks ago a 33-year-old British woman died in her room at the legendary party hotel in San Antonio after suffering a cardiac arrest - with paramedics unable to save her. Tragically, just three days earlier a 19-year-old Italian tourist had plunged to her death from the fourth floor of the same hotel after returning from a night out in the island's capital, Ibiza Town. The teenager, of Turkish origin, is reported to have fallen from the terrifying height while trying to enter her room from a shared area because she didn't have her room key. The shocking deaths are the latest tragedies to hit the adults-only venue - where its legendary poolside events draw crowds of up to 3,000 partygoers, many of whom are Brits. Located just metres from one of the world's most famous sunset spots, Ibiza Rocks Hotel has more than 360 rooms, with the priciest offering balconies with an enviable stage view. Stars who have taken to the outdoor stage include Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding, Rudimental, Swedish House Mafia and Anne-Marie. Parties are open to both hotel residents and non-guests, with Ibiza Rocks fan and Londoner Hanieh Vidmar describing them as 'real close-up' events that offer a 'brilliant vibe'. 'We always went VIP so we got the best view, and were right by the bar,' Hanieh, now a nutritional therapist, told The Sun. 'I've got some great memories there.' Yet while the hotel has a zero-tolerance drugs policy - with rule-breakers facing immediate eviction - some holidaymakers claim to have witnessed 'blatant drug activity' at the venue. One guest claimed on Tripadvisor that 'druggies were sniffing lines of coke off the side of the pool and sun loungers', while a partygoer told The Sun there were 'a lot' of drugs. Brit tourist, 18, fighting for life after third floor balcony plunge in Ibiza as he's airlifted to hospital The British mum, who attended a Craig David event at the hotel but did not wish to be identified, told us: 'There was a lot of alcohol and drugs, but it never felt totally out of control. 'I wouldn't have thought anything fatal would happen there. Everyone was just having a good time.' Overdose horror 14 Haneih had been to see Craig David perform at the iconic venue Credit: Supplied 14 Luke Rhoden died at the hotel in 2014 after being restrained by police Credit: Paul Edwards - The Sun Yet in 2008, the same year that Ibiza Rocks Hotel opened its doors, a 23-year-old British holidaymaker collapsed at the venue after overdosing on a cocktail of drink and drugs. Michael Robertson later died in hospital, having suffered heart failure. He was found to have traces of cocaine in his body, as well as ecstasy and booze, the Daily Mail reported. Six years later Ibiza Rocks Hotel guest Luke Rhoden - who had become agitated after taking drugs - died while being brutally restrained by baton-wielding Spanish police. Best Man Luke, who had travelled from Wigan, Greater Manchester, to Ibiza for his pal's stag do, was overheard pleading 'I don't want to die' before Guardia Civil officers held him down. An inquest heard how officers applied pressure to the 25-year-old's neck with a baton for more than five minutes, despite a doctor warning them that they were 'going to kill' him. 'They put a strong baton on his neck. I said, 'You are asphyxiating him; you are going to kill him. I said this three times,' Dr Santiago Akoskin told jurors at Bolton's Coroner's Court. Luke, a former rugby league player, had consumed drugs, including cocaine and MDMA, and alcohol before officers were called to Ibiza Rocks Hotel in September 2014. The inquest was told that, prior to his struggle with police, Luke had accidentally fallen from a balcony at the hotel, before allegedly ranting at guests and refusing medical treatment. Excessive force 14 Doctors told the court that drugs wouldn't have been enough to kill Luke Credit: Paul Edwards - The Sun 14 Luke's family called for justice following his death at the hands of Spanish police Credit: nbpress Yet Dr Akoskin told the court that cocaine 'is not enough to kill', and that he himself took care of 'nine to 12' patients in Luke's condition each week and 'not one dies'. 'I have patients in worse conditions,' added the medic. In a damning verdict in 2016, jurors found that Luke died of asphyxiation - caused by excessive force used by the officers - and an adverse reaction to drugs. Grieving loved ones have since called for 'justice' for Luke, emphasising that many young people 'indulge in drug use' in Ibiza, 'even if it's the only time they have ever done it'. Last year The Sun revealed how groups of migrants - who once peddled fake Gucci sunglasses - were offering highly toxic pink cocaine to partygoers on the island. We found Brits were at the centre of the use and supply of the deadly ­substance - a psychedelic mix of ­ketamine and ecstasy, along with so-called 'dealers' leftovers'. Toxic drug 14 Pink Cocaine has become a popular drug in the club scene of Ibiza Credit: AFP 14 Drug use is common on the party island of Ibiza Credit: Olivia West Spanish authorities said the drug is so toxic it's 'like a bomb' going off. In 2022 a dozen people, who police said were 'mostly Brits', were busted with 13 kilos of pink cocaine in Ibiza. An ex-Ibizan police chief told us: 'Brits are so brazen they will pack pink coke in their suitcase to sell to fund their holiday.' Of course, as well as the inherent health risks, substances like pink coke can increase the likelihood of holidaymakers engaging in dangerous activities while in Ibiza. In July 2023, a British tourist was filmed edging across a narrow ledge above the courtyard at Ibiza Rocks Hotel, while a terrified woman yelled: 'Get down! For f***'s sake!' Charlie Brooke Walsh, 19, who captured the stomach-churning footage, said the man was 'removed' by security after reaching the other side of the ledge unscathed. 'I want to raise awareness about people who fall off balconies on holiday after taking substances or drinking,' Charlie, a dental nurse from the UK, said at the time. Tragic deaths 14 Mum Amy, 23, died at the hotel in her sleep after going out partying Credit: Facebook 14 The hotel likes to claim it is the home of the pool party While that holidaymaker was lucky to cheat death, others have been killed or left critically injured after plunging from balconies in Ibiza, including a 21-year-old British man who suffered a severe head injury at Ibiza Rocks Hotel in August 2018. There is no suggestion the man had taken drugs before his fall. Joanne Brine, an expert in accidents abroad and a partner in the travel litigation team at JMW Solicitors, told us: "We regularly see serious injuries to holidaymakers in Ibiza, and often it seems to me that a factor is that we are all a bit more risk-averse when on holiday.' In some cases, she added, 'it's risk-taking by the individual that causes the injury'. In other tragedies it is simply a case of heartbreaking misfortune. Tourist Amy Connor - a 23-year-old mum from Coleraine, Northern Ireland - died in her sleep at Ibiza Rocks Hotel five years ago after going for a nap in her room. Ibiza club scene 800,000 Brits head to Ibiza, which has just under 50,000 inhabitants, every year. Party season runs from May to October and there are over 20 main clubs hosting parties throughout. Privilege (originally known as the Ku Club), is a current Guinness World record holder for being the world's largest nightclub, with a capacity of 10,000 people. A recent survey found that 54 per cent of UK nationals in Ibiza reported using illicit drugs including ecstasy, cocaine, cannabis, ketamine and amphetamine Amy, described as a 'blazing star', 'so friendly' and 'one of a kind' by loved ones, had been sunbathing with her sister, Toni, before they went back to their room to rest. Toni, 26, told Belfast Live: "We had been down to the pool and then came back up to the room for a while, so Amy got into the shower and then got into bed. "I went and sat out on the balcony and ate some crisps and chilled and when I came back in, she was still in the bed… it was so surreal, it didn't make sense. 'It was just such a shock." A devastating final photo shows Amy beaming beside Toni on the 2020 holiday. Toni added that she was "gob-smacked' at the generosity of hotel staff following the tragedy, saying they packed her suitcases, provided food and offered her a free hotel in London. The cause of Amy's sudden death was reported to be unclear at the time. Latest horror 14 A 33-year-old British woman has reportedly died at the hotel Credit: Ibiza Rocks 14 Katie Price has been a guest at the hotel which attracts thousands of Brits a year Credit: Alamy The cause of the latest tragedy at Ibiza Rocks Hotel - the death of the 33-year-old unidentified British woman - is said to have been a cardiac arrest. The woman had a pre-existing heart condition and was wearing an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a small battery-powered device, in her chest, according to local reports. Such devices detect and treat irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. Emergency services raced to the hotel after the alarm was raised on the evening of April 30. Despite performing CPR on the woman for 40 minutes, they were unable to save her. Ibiza Rocks Hotel - formerly called Club Paraiso Mediterraneo - expressed its dismay at the deaths of both the woman and the Italian tourist days earlier, which happened 'due to causes beyond our control'. It also extended its 'utmost support' to the victims' families. This summer thousands more holidaymakers will flock to the hotel for what event organisers have described as 'a season full of memories, music and moments we'll never forget'. Let's hope the moments are unforgettable for the right reasons. The Sun has contacted Ibiza Rocks Hotel for comment.

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