An inquest has heard that two friends died after falling from a hotel balcony in Lanzarote. Darren Silcox, 56, and Nicholas Thomas, 54, fell approximately 20ft (6.1m) when a wooden handrail collapsed at the Galeon Playa Apartments in Costa Teguise at 01:30 on 25 October.
Emergency services were alerted after the incident. Mr Silcox, from Pontnewydd in Cwmbran, died two hours later from a traumatic brain injury, skull fractures, and skull lacerations. Mr Thomas, also from Cwmbran, was initially treated in Lanzarote before being flown back to the UK at the end of November, where he died nearly 10 months later on 10 July at University Hospital Llandough in Cardiff.
The Spanish Civil Guard has launched an inquiry to determine if poor maintenance or inadequate safety measures contributed to the fatal accident. The inquest proceedings have been adjourned until 14 April, when a joint full inquest is expected to take place.