An Ibiza hotel and music venue has cancelled a number of events following the deaths of two British men on its premises in the space of two weeks. Gary Kelly, 19, a professional ice hockey player for the Dundee Stars, died at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel on Monday, while Evan Thomson, 26, another Scottish tourist, died after falling at the same hotel on 7 July.
The Dundee Stars paid tribute to Kelly, describing him as a “hugely talented and charismatic individual who had a great future ahead of him”. Kelly also briefly played for the Whitley Warriors during the 2023-24 season. Other ice hockey teams, including the Glasgow Clan, also expressed their condolences.
Thomson’s mother paid tribute to her son in a social media post, writing: “I’m absolutely heartbroken… my son Evan was in a tragic accident whilst on holiday with his friends in Ibiza and sadly passed away.” She added: “We are all absolutely broken.”
The Ibiza Rocks Hotel, which also operates as an open-air music venue, said it was “deeply shocked and devastated” and decided to pause its scheduled events programme “due to the seriousness of the situation and out of respect for those involved”. The rapper Dizzee Rascal and the drum’n’bass band Rudimental were among the acts booked to perform. The hotel did not specify how many events were cancelled.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”
