A hotel in La Manga is facing a safety investigation after a balcony collapsed onto a guest relaxing by the pool, leaving the 43-year-old man paralysed.
Cartagena City Council has opened a building safety file against the Izan Cavanna Hotel following Friday’s incident, which saw part of a balcony detach from the structure and fall onto the victim below.
Inspectors visited the hotel immediately after the accident and ordered the closure of the two rooms connected to the affected section of the building.
The hotel has now been instructed to undergo a full safety review and obtain a certificate confirming the structure is safe.
Authorities have also recommended a comprehensive building assessment and ordered repairs to the damaged area.
The investigation comes after hotel guests told local media they had noticed signs of deterioration on parts of the building before the accident.
Some decorative cornices and exterior sections of the hotel reportedly appeared to be in poor condition, raising concerns among visitors about the maintenance of the property.
The collapse left the tourist from Almeria with life-changing injuries after part of the balcony struck him while he was swimming in the hotel’s pool.
Relatives have stressed that it was not merely falling debris.
‘Half a balcony fell on him, not just a few pieces of rubble,’ family members told local media.
Alongside the City Hall investigation, the Guardia Civil has opened its own inquiry to determine exactly why the balcony collapsed and whether any other parts of the hotel could pose a risk to guests.
Investigators will examine the condition of the building and establish whether safety regulations were being met at the time of the accident.
The victim was initially rushed to Santa Lucia Hospital before being transferred to the Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
According to relatives, he has been left paraplegic as a result of his injuries.
The family has reportedly instructed a lawyer and is considering legal action.
They have also criticised the hotel’s response following the accident, claiming relatives who travelled to Murcia after the incident were not offered accommodation or a place to rest.
The injured man and his wife had been enjoying a holiday on the Murcian coast when the accident occurred.
He is expected to be transferred back to his home province of Almeria in the coming days aboard a specialised medical transport vehicle, where he will continue receiving treatment.
