A British tourist has died after falling down a stairwell at a backpacker hostel in Tarragona, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
The man, believed to be around 40, died in the early hours of Sunday, October 11, after falling from a height equivalent to a third floor at accommodation on Carrer de la Unió in the town centre, according to local reports.
Police investigate fatal fall at Tarragona hostel
The incident was reported at around 1am, when emergency services were called to the establishment. According to Diari de Tarragona, the man had returned to the hostel with a friend shortly before the accident. The pair were reportedly spending the weekend in Tarragona, having travelled from Barcelona.
Initial reports suggest the tourist may have lost his balance while climbing the stairs before falling through the open stairwell. However, the exact circumstances of the fall have not been conclusively established.
Paramedics from Catalonia’s Emergency Medical System (SEM) attempted to resuscitate the man at the scene, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Hostel staff reportedly raised the alarm after realising the seriousness of the incident. A doctor living in the building was also among those who tried to help the injured man.
The Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police force, have opened an investigation to establish exactly what happened. Initial information indicates that the death is being treated as accidental.
Alcohol claims remain unconfirmed
Some reports have raised the possibility that alcohol may have played a part in the events leading up to the fall. However, this has not been officially confirmed, and no conclusion has been announced about what caused the accident. Staff at the accommodation were reportedly left shocked by the death.
The hostel, located on Carrer de la Unió in central Tarragona, has reportedly been operating for around 12 years and has welcomed thousands of visitors from different countries. Police have not publicly released the deceased man’s name, and further details about the investigation have not been disclosed.