Friends of a Scottish tourist who fell to his death while celebrating his birthday in Ibiza have accused the hotel of trying to get rid of them ‘so they could return to business as usual.’
Tragic Evan Thomson, 26, was enjoying a holiday with friends when he fell from the Ibiza Rocks Hotel on July 7.
Paramedics rushed to the area but there was nothing they could do and he was pronounced dead at the scene on the hotel grounds.
But friends have since criticised hotel management for allegedly tucking them away in an office in the aftermath of the death.
They allegedly heard jetwashers cleaning away Evan’s blood just 90 minutes after finding him on the ground at around 6am.
The grieving friends told Press and Journal how the hotel was still advertising events for that day on social media.
Pal Blair Robertson, 25, said after spending 90 minutes in the manager’s office ‘without answers’, they were informed of Evan’s death and allowed back to their rooms to pack before being moved to another hotel.
Blair said: ‘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.’
A second pal, James Shand, accused the hotel of seeing Evan’s death from a ‘business perspective’.
He said: ‘Seeing them post ‘are you all ready for the next event?’ within hours of it happening was sickening.
‘They looked at Evan’s death from a business perspective. 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?’
The Spanish Eye has contacted Ibiza Rocks Hotel for comment.
It said in a previous 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 Evan’s death, and to provide constant support from our customer services manager to Evan’s friends.
‘That has included them having 24-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.’
Read more Spain news at the Spanish Eye.
