A hotel and music venue in Ibiza has cancelled its planned events after two British men died on its premises.
Gary Kelly, 19, died after falling from the third floor of the Ibiza Rocks hotel on Monday, after Evan Thomson, 26, died at the venue on July 7.
The four-star hotel said it was ‘deeply shocked and devastated’ by the incidents and that it had decided to pause upcoming events ‘out of respect for those involved’.
‘Our priority is to support those affected and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and to fully assist the authorities with their investigations,’ a statement shared to social media on Monday read.
‘The safety and wellbeing of our guests has, and always will remain, our highest priority,’ the statement continued, adding that all customers would be informed directly of the changes by email.
The statement was posted in the wake of the tragic death of Mr Kelly in the early hours of July 21. Spanish police said that initial investigations suggested his fall had been accidental.
It came two weeks after Mr Thomson died in a separate ‘tragic accident’ at the hotel, confirmed by his ‘heartbroken’ mother on social media.
His friends had earlier criticised the decision to carry on with the festivities.
‘Seeing them post “are you ready for the next event?” within hours of it happening was sickening,’ one had said.
The Ibiza Rocks venue in San Antonio is marking its 20th anniversary this July, and had planned a string of events headlined by Dizzee Rascal, Songer and Rudimental on July 23 and July 30.
On April 30, a 33-year-old British woman collapsed and died in her room at the hotel. Spanish media reported at the time that the woman, who has not been named, had pre-existing heart conditions.
And on April 27, a 19-year-old Italian tourist died after falling from the fourth-floor of the hotel, having flown out the previous day. She had reportedly lost her footing while trying to reach her room from a balcony after misplacing her keycard.
Ibiza Rocks said it was working with the relevant authorities in the wake of the recent incidents.
‘Given the seriousness of the situation and out of respect for those involved, we believe it is right to pause our advertised events programme at this time,’ the statement read.
Tributes continued to pour in following news of Mr Kelly’s tragic death. His ice hockey team, Dundee Stars, shared a tribute, saying they were ‘truly devastated’ to learn of his passing.
The statement added: ‘We send our thoughts and condolences to Gary’s family, partner, and all his friends at this extremely difficult time.’
Mr Kelly’s girlfriend, Louise Essery, published a tribute to her partner, remembering him as ‘inspiring, whether in hockey, work, or with loved ones’.
She wrote on her social media: ‘I never thought I would be sat here writing a goodbye. For those who knew Gary, you were so lucky.
‘His passion and dedication was inspiring, whether in hockey, work, or with loved ones. I’m struggling to understand how you are no longer with me.
‘It hasn’t really hit me yet. Gary taught and showed me valuable lessons that I’ll carry with me forever.
‘I think it’s important to remember the good times and to celebrate the love he brought into our lives.’
She added: ‘Everything feels heavy, and words can’t express the love I have for Gary.
‘I wish you could see how much you are loved. Even though our experiences together have paused, the memories we made will stay with me forever. I miss you so much already.’
Meanwhile, Mr Kelly’s sisters have also paid tribute to their ‘baby brother’.
Kharis Kelly wrote online: ‘Our hearts are shattered beyond words. Our handsome boy has gone to the other side. Absolutely no words.’
She added: ‘You’ll forever be our boy Gary, sleep tight.’
Ms Kelly also thanked everyone who had left tributes outside Dundee Ice Arena and the home of Aberdeen Lynx saying it ‘means a world’ to his loved ones.
Another sister, Paige, wrote: ‘I don’t think this pain will ever stop. As most of you know from my sister’s post our baby brother passed away.
‘I don’t know how the f*** we’re gonna do life without you Gary. The life the soul of everything, you were just so pure would do anything for your family friends and Louise.
‘Awww Gary I wish it was all a dream.’
She concluded: ‘ I love you so much Gary and I’ll look after everyone for you. Forever in my heart my brother, I will never forget you.’
Ice hockey team Aberdeen Lynx, which Mr Kelly had played for, remembered him as one of their ‘brightest stars’.
‘Gary was more than just a talented hockey player — he was a young man full of heart, passion, and dedication,’ their tribute read.
‘On the ice, he gave everything he had. Off the ice, he brought energy, kindness, and an infectious love of life that lifted everyone around him.’
Two ambulances were sent to the scene at around 12.40am, but paramedics were unable to revive him.
Local police said that he was ‘already dead by the time help arrived’, adding that initial investigations suggested the fall had been accidental.
‘The fall was from from the third floor of the hotel to an outside part of the complex. Court officials authorised the removal of his body at 2.40am,’ a police statement read.
An investigation is ongoing.
An spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.’
The news came days after 26-year-old Evan Thomson fell to his death at the hotel.
Mr Thomson, from Aberdeen, was celebrating his birthday with friends when he tragically lost his life at Ibiza Rocks Hotel.
Paramedics rushed to the site of the incident on the hotel grounds but pronounced him dead at the scene.
Confirming his death, the Nuestra Senora del Rosario Polyclinic said: ‘Regrettably and despite all the efforts of medical personnel, the patient who fell yesterday in San Antonio has died due to the severity of his injuries.’
Evan’s mother Lel Kellighan wrote on social media to confirm her son’s tragic accident.
‘We are all absolutely broken,’ she wrote, adding: ‘Please allow us some time.’
Friends had lamented the decision to carry on with the events. Remi Duncan, 23, said: ‘It was disgusting. There was minimal respect for the situation, considering the music went back on soon after Evan had died. It puts a pit in your stomach.’
Speaking to Press and Journal friend Blair Robertson, 25, claimed that after spending over an hour in the hotel management’s office ‘without answers’, they were informed of Evan’s death.
They were then allowed back to their rooms to pack before being transferred to another hotel.
Mr Robertson also claimed that they heard jet-washers going and cleaning away Evan’s blood 90 minutes after he was found on the ground at 6am.
‘We heard the jet washes from the ground cleaning the area where Evan died and it had only been 90 minutes or so since he was found.
‘That was the worst thing for us to hear – how fast they tried to get things back to normal.
‘They took us out of the hotel at around 9am and put us in a new hotel down the road. It was like they wanted to get back to business as usual as soon as possible.
‘It was just a very traumatic experience. They just wanted us out – and to start the party again. It was a disregard of life. It was hard hearing the cleaners coming into the room in the morning, as though nothing had happened.’
Another friend, James Shan, claimed that the hotel looked at Evan’s death from a ‘business perspective’.
‘Seeing them post “are you ready for the next event?” within hours of it happening was sickening.’
‘They just preferred that people wouldn’t find out, so it wouldn’t ruin the party.
‘Even if that post was an oversight, they’ve had a week to remove it and haven’t. How could they do that – no less than five hours after Evan died?’.
Following Mr Thomson’s death, the hotel said in a statement: ‘This is a truly tragic and extremely sad situation.
‘Our senior management team onsite did everything possible to help the police with their investigation into events leading up to Evans’ death, and to provide constant support from our customer services managed to Evan’s friends.
‘That has included them having four-hour access to our senior manager for any help or questions and giving them permission to pass on her mobile number to Evan’s family should they wish to call us direct.
‘They were very appreciative of all the help and support at such a difficult time.
‘We are deeply saddened by Evan’s death and our thoughts continue to be with his family and friends at this truly difficult time.’
On April 30, an unnamed 33-year-old British tourist died in her room at the hotel.
Emergency responders confirmed when they arrived the holidaymaker had gone into cardiac arrest and spent around 40 minutes performing CPR on her to try to revive her.
According to local outlet Nou Diari, the woman had underlying heart conditions and was carrying an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Her death came three days after a 19-year-old girl died while trying to access her room to the hotel.
The tourist, identified only as an Italian holidaymaker of Turkish origin, was said to be trying to reach her room from a shared area of the hotel via a balcony after realising she did not have her key card with her when she slipped and fell.