Two Welsh friends died after falling approximately 20 feet when a wooden handrail gave way on a hotel balcony in Lanzarote, an inquest has heard.
Darren Silcox, 56, and Nicholas Thomas, 54, both from Cwmbran, Wales, fell from the balcony at the Galeon Playa Apartments in Costa Teguise at around 1:30am in October 2025 following a night out.
Fatal fall details
Father-of-two Mr Silcox died two hours after the fall. Mr Thomas was flown back to Britain for treatment and later transferred to University Hospital in Llandough, where he died on 10 July 2026, nearly ten months after the incident.
Emergency services were called to the scene at about 1:30am. Medical teams confirmed that the 56-year-old had died from injuries sustained in the fall. An initial inquest into Mr Silcox's death recorded the cause as a traumatic brain injury, skull fractures and skull lacerations.
Investigation and inquest
Spain's Civil Guard has launched an investigation focusing on whether poor maintenance or insufficient safety measures contributed to the incident. Gwent coroner Rose Farmer, opening the inquest into Mr Thomas's death, stated that he fell between 15 feet and 22 feet after a wooden bannister collapsed.
Mr Thomas was taken to Doctor Jose Molina Orosa Hospital in Lanzarote for initial treatment before being repatriated to the UK at the end of November 2025. The proceedings have been adjourned until 14 April next year, when a joint inquest for both men is expected to be held.
