A 21-year-old British tourist from South Wales tragically lost his life in his Benidorm hotel room mere hours after arriving for his first ever 'lads holiday' abroad, a coroner's inquest has been told.
Fatal Holiday Turn After Substance Mix
Harvey Dominy, from Merthyr Tydfil, had travelled to the popular Spanish coastal resort with three close friends for a week-long holiday in July 2024. The trip took a devastating and fatal turn after Harvey consumed a dangerous combination of alcohol and illicit drugs, subsequently collapsing and struggling to breathe in full view of his companions, Liam Mason and Levi Davies.
Distressing Snapchat Videos Capture Deterioration
The inquest at Pontypridd heard that Mr Mason sent a video to their group chat on Snapchat showing Harvey 'slumped in a chair on the balcony.' Over an hour later, a second video was sent depicting Harvey lying on the floor appearing 'grey' in colour. Mr Mason then sent a chilling message stating simply: 'He's gone.'
Harvey's best friend, Liam Llewellyn, who had gone to bed early in a separate hotel, received a call informing him that Harvey was unwell. Mr Llewellyn stated that Harvey had been talking normally when he left at 8.30pm and he had 'no concerns' for his friend's welfare at that time.
Chaotic Scene and Delayed Emergency Response
The inquest heard that Harvey was staying on the 15th floor of a hotel where the lift was broken. As his condition rapidly deteriorated, his friends faced a chaotic and frightening situation. Friend Levi Davies testified that they did not know the Spanish emergency services number, prompting Mr Mason to leave the room to search for hotel staff to raise the alarm.
Giving evidence, Mr Davies described the harrowing sequence: 'Harvey started to feel unwell. He said he felt sick, and then he was sick.' After giving his friend water, Harvey began struggling to breathe. 'A short time after, Harvey then lay on the floor and started struggling to breathe. I don't remember him collapsing. I tried to give him more water but he would spit it back out. I had never seen Harvey in that type of state before.'
Timeline of Events and Family Concerns
The friends had purchased cocaine and MDMA upon their arrival in Benidorm and took the drugs together on the evening of July 16, 2024. Harvey's family raised significant concerns about the timeline of events, believing there was a critical delay in obtaining medical attention for him.
Spanish police reports estimated that Harvey died between 9pm and 10.30pm. Emergency services finally arrived at the scene at 10.47pm, confirming that Harvey displayed 'no vital signs.'
Post-Mortem and Toxicology Findings
A post-mortem examination established the medical cause of death as cardiac respiratory arrest, with the underlying cause identified as an acute reaction to psychoactive substances. Subsequent toxicology reports confirmed the presence of alcohol, cocaine, and MDMA in his system at the time of death.
Community Mourning and Tributes
In the aftermath of the tragedy, friends and the local community gathered to pay their respects. A poignant balloon release was organised near his family home in 2024 to celebrate Harvey's life. Friend Liam Greenaway posted a heartfelt tribute online, writing: 'I honestly don't know what to say, I've honestly lost a part of me, my right arm you was my bro. You was so special to everyone but most important to me, honest the best boy ever [you] was brother.'
The inquest proceedings in Pontypridd are ongoing as authorities continue to examine the full circumstances surrounding this devastating loss of a young life on holiday.
