An inquest has heard that a man who had been drinking alcohol fell to his death in a tragic accident while out on a late-night walk in Majorca.
Cliff Fall in Majorca
Ben Clark, from Andover, Hampshire, was enjoying a holiday in the Spanish hotspot of Majorca with his daughter for the first time in June last year. The 41-year-old was said to be "really excited" about the trip.
Mr Clark and his daughter struck up a friendship with another British woman, Nicky Foers, and her aunt while on holiday, with the families socialising by the pool.
On June 26, Mr Clark and Ms Foers went on a late-night walk to the beach at around 11.30pm when tragedy struck, Winchester Coroner's Court heard.
Coroner's Findings
Area coroner Jason Pegg said on the evidence there was clearly "some attraction" between the father and Ms Foers when they decided to go on the walk. He said it seems "slightly unclear" what caused Mr Clark to fall from the cliff but believed alcohol probably contributed to him losing his footing.
"All of you, particularly your dad, had consumed alcohol," Mr Pegg said. "He was not completely staggering around and out of it, but (had been) drinking nonetheless."
He added: "There came a time on that cliff top where your dad was looking out to sea, Ms Foers looking into land, in close proximity."
The coroner said it was unclear what happened prior to the fall, but there was a possibility they went to hug each other and lost their balance.
Witness Account
Giving evidence on Tuesday, Ms Foers told the inquest her last memory before the fall was being stood face to face, adding: "I remember seeing my feet, flip-flops coming off and just rolling and rolling and rolling. I'm guessing he would have given me a hug and that's what made me stumble back."
She said when she came round, as she believed she was unconscious, she thought Mr Clark had not fallen and she had just slipped. "I didn't know if he panicked, gone to find help, I didn't even think he'd fell," she said.
Accident Ruling
The coroner recorded Mr Clark's death as an accident, after he fell down the footpath onto the beach below causing multiple rib fractures, which caused pulmonary haemorrhage – bleeding in the lungs – leading to respiratory failure.
"Ben was intoxicated with alcohol which contributed to death," he said.
The inquest, which was attended by his family, heard Mr Clark was described as really funny, someone who adored his children and was a much-loved grandson, son, brother and father.
