Latest news with #tragicdeaths
The Sun
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Spate of tragedies at Spanish ‘Death Hotel' Ibiza Rocks laid bare after deaths of at least 7 tourists including Brits
A POPULAR hotel in Spain has gained unwanted global attention after a spate of tragic tourist deaths - including two Brits in the last month. At least seven holidaymakers have lost their lives at the now infamous Ibiza Rocks party resort which has been labelled as the "Death Hotel". 10 10 10 San Antonio's Ibiza Rocks had been known as one of the Spanish island's most beloved spots for partygoers. For two decades, some of the biggest events of the summer have taken place at the huge poolside area. Huge DJs and celebrities have welcomed in thousands of guests to the star-studded pool parties up until this year. A spate of recent deaths, including Brits Evan Thomson, 26, and Gary Kelly, 19, has caused all of the upcoming events to be paused. The venue announced their decision in a statement which came just hours after the death of Kelly. The teenage ice hockey star lost his life after falling from a third floor balcony at Ibiza Rocks in the early hours of the morning. Two ambulances were sent to the scene but there was nothing the paramedics could do to save him. The statement from Ibiza Rocks posted on their social media pages read: "The safety and wellbeing 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." Just two weeks earlier, fellow Brit Thomson also died in similar tragic circumstances. He was on holiday with pals celebrating his birthday at the hotel when he plunged from the sixth-floor to his death. There has been no suggestion the hotel is responsible for any of the deaths. But the Aberdeen lad's family were quick to call out the hotel for their response to his death. They claimed the hotel's handling of the situation was "horrific". Evan's friend Blair Robertson, 25, said: "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." His other friend James Shand told Press and Journal: "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." 10 10 As police continue to investigate both of the young Brit's deaths, a worrying number of other tragedies at the hotel have been revealed. Ibizan outlet Noudiari even reported that the "latest incident adds to a worrying statistic that has led some people to refer to Ibiza Rocks as the "Death Hotel'." 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. The woman reportedly had a cardioverter defibrillator implant which helped to monitor her heartbeat and treat abnormal heart rhythms. 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. She then decided to try and access her room via a balcony, according to local media. The teen lost her footing and fell to her death. In a statement afterwards, Ibiza Rocks Hotel said: "Following the tragic events that occurred this week due to causes beyond our control, IRG expresses its dismay and extends its utmost support to the families of the victims, thanking people for respect for their privacy in a situation of immeasurable pain." 10 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. Her friends found her unconscious in bed a short time later. Heartbroken sister Toni has always praised the hotel for how they handled the situation. She said they offered the group help with everything from flights home to even paying for extra cases to help them feel comfortable. One of the most notable deaths linked to the hotel came in 2014. The final minutes of former rugby player Luke Rhoden's life were steeped in mystery for years after his family announced his passing. Rhoden, 25, died on September 2, with police initially saying he fell from a first-floor balcony before running through the hotel screaming "someone's trying to kill me". The Spanish Civil Guard managed to subdue the athlete by giving him a sedative and placed him in an ambulance. He then died at the scene as paramedics spent 40 minutes trying to revive him. But theories soon emerged that Rhoden's death may have been caused by the officers as they tried to restrain him. Dad Norman would call for an investigation after reading reports his son was "excessively beaten" on social media. An inquest was launched in Bolton as a jury found he died of asphyxiation caused by the excessive restraining methods adopted by the Guardia Civil and an adverse reaction to drug use. Ibiza Rocks was at the centre of the police probe for weeks but staff were later praised by cops after a woman filmed the altercation. 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.
The Herald
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald
NGOs: NPA must prosecute Mahlangu, Manamela for Life Esidimeni deaths
The two had ignored expert advice, Teffo said. ' The inquest found that the conduct of Ms Qedani Mahlangu and Makgabo Manamela on the face of it caused the tragic deaths of nine mental healthcare users,' said Section27 spokesperson Pearl Nicodemus. 'Today, also marks exactly one year of no action on prosecution from the NPA, despite the judgment from a three-year inquest that concluded in July 2024. 'Section27, the Life Esidimeni family members and the SA Depression and Anxiety Group remind the NPA that the mental healthcare users who died tragic and avoidable deaths while in the care of the state were human beings, with families who loved them and whose dignity and right to life were stolen. 'We remember the lives of Virginia Machpelah, Deborah Phehla, Frans Dekker, Charity Ratsotso, Koketso Mogoerane, Terrence Chaba, Daniel Josiah, Matlakala Motsoahae, and Lucky Maseko and the 135 others who died in this disaster. ' To ensure that we never again see such a disastrous and reckless abuse of public power in our country, the affected families and civil society organisations will continue, until we see justice done, to call on the NPA to prosecute. We urge the NPA to prioritise the prosecution of Ms Mahlangu and Dr Manamela.' After the judgment, the NPA said it would study it 'to determine whether the NPA will institute criminal prosecutions against the two individuals whom the court found can be held liable for the deaths'. SowetanLIVE
