Friends died after holiday balcony fall, inquest hears

An investigation has been launched into the deaths of two friends who fell from a balcony while on holiday, an inquest has heard.

Darren Silcox and Nicholas Thomas died after falling about 20ft (6.1m) when a wooden handrail collapsed on a hotel balcony in Lanzarote at 01:30 on 25 October.

Both men fell into the atrium stairwell at the Galeon Playa Apartments in the resort town of Costa Teguise after a night out.

The Spanish Civil Guard inquiry will focus on whether poor maintenance or inadequate safety measures contributed to the fatal accident.

The proceedings were adjourned until 14 April when a joint full inquest is expected to be held.

Emergency services were alerted after the two men fell and Silcox, 56, from Pontnewydd in Cwmbran died two hours later.

Thomas, 54, also from Cwmbran, flew back to the UK for treatment and was transferred to University Hospital Llandough in Cardiff, but died nearly 10 months later on 10 July.

Opening an inquest into shop manager Thomas' death, Gwent coroner Rose Farmer said he fell between 15ft and 22ft (4.6m - 6.7m) after a wooden bannister collapsed.

He was taken to Doctor Jose Molina Orosa Hospital on the island for initial treatment before he was flown back to the UK at the end of November.

An earlier inquest opening into the death of Silcox heard he died from a traumatic brain injury, skull fractures and skull lacerations.