A 41-year-old father died after falling from a cliff in Majorca while on a late-night walk, an inquest has heard. Ben Clark, from Andover, Hampshire, was on holiday with his daughter when the incident occurred on June 26.
Details of the incident
Winchester Coroner's Court heard that Mr Clark had been drinking alcohol during the holiday, which was the first time he and his daughter had gone away together. He had been "really excited" about the trip.
On the evening of the fall, Mr Clark went for a walk with a British woman named Nicky Foers, whom he and his daughter had befriended around the pool along with her aunt. The pair set off for the beach at around 11.30pm.
Coroner's findings
Area coroner Jason Pegg said there was clearly "some attraction" between Mr Clark and Ms Foers, but it was "slightly unclear" what caused the fall. He believed alcohol likely contributed to Mr Clark 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 there was a possibility they went to hug each other and lost their balance.
Witness testimony
Giving evidence, Ms Foers told the inquest her last memory before the fall was standing face to face. "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.
She said when she came round, she believed 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.
Cause of death
The coroner recorded Mr Clark's death as an accident. He fell down the footpath onto the beach below, suffering multiple rib fractures that caused pulmonary haemorrhage – bleeding in the lungs – leading to respiratory failure. "Ben was intoxicated with alcohol which contributed to death," he said.
The inquest, attended by his family, heard Mr Clark was described as really funny, someone who adored his children, and a much-loved grandson, son, brother and father.
