A coroner has officially ruled the death of a British daredevil influencer, who plunged from Spain's highest bridge while attempting to create social media content, as a tragic accident.
The Fatal Climb on a Forbidden Structure
Lewis Stevenson, a 26-year-old from Derby, died on October 13 last year after falling from the Castilla La Mancha bridge near Talavera de la Reina. The structure, which spans the River Tagus, stands at a dizzying height of 630 feet.
Derby coroner Susan Evans concluded the inquest into his death, stating he was not wearing any safety equipment. The hearing was told that in the early hours of the morning, Stevenson and a friend used the elevator rail to scale the bridge's central mast, with Stevenson taking the lead.
A Sudden Illness and Tragic Fall
The inquest heard a critical detail: as they reached the height of the first cables, Stevenson felt ill and asked his friend to take over. He then vomited, and moments later, he fell from the immense height. He sustained fatal injuries from the impact.
A source close to the investigation confirmed that neither man had any harnesses or protective gear. Spanish authorities had earlier stated the pair had travelled to Talavera specifically to climb the bridge and generate content for their social media accounts.
Family Pleas and a Passion for Adventure
Local councillor Macarena Munoz reiterated that accessing the bridge is "totally banned", an act that "cannot be done under any circumstances". Despite this, and despite his family's desperate pleas, Stevenson proceeded with the stunt.
His grandfather, Clifford Stevenson, 70, said from the family home in Derby: "We all tried to talk him out of it. We were always trying to talk him out of doing things but that was the way he was. He loved doing it."
His mother, Keila Stevenson, described her son as a "thrill-seeker" with a passion for photography and travel, whose adventures had taken him to places like Easter Island and Machu Picchu. "We as a whole family supported his adventures... but unfortunately those adventures also included climbing great heights which we didn’t particularly agree with," she said.
She emphasised he did his climbs for passion, not as a professional influencer, and "knew his limits". His heartbroken girlfriend, Savannah Parker, revealed his last words to her were "Good night, I love you" the night before the tragedy.
Investigation and Lasting Legacy
Investigators also considered whether bad weather played a role, as heavy rain had fallen in the area before the incident, potentially making surfaces dangerously slippery. The bridge has reportedly attracted climbers and influencers for years, all ignoring the strict ban.
Coroner Susan Evans's verdict of accident brings a formal close to the case, but leaves a family shattered. Keila Stevenson summed up the loss: "There will forever be a hole in our hearts and life will not be the same again."
