Footballer died falling from Ibiza hotel balcony when room was locked

A young footballer who 'lit up every room' died after falling from an Ibiza hotel balcony while trying to get into his locked bedroom.

John McKenna, 22, sustained an 'unsurvivable' head injury after jumping between third floor balconies at the party island's budget Azuline Hotel Llevant in San Antonio last year, an inquest has heard.

His death is the latest in a string of British tourists who have died or suffered severe injuries while falling from balconies.

At an inquest held into his death yesterday his mother Sandra McKenna said he was a 'genuine lad' who 'lived life to the full' and had the ability to 'light up the room' with his bright smile.

His room-mate had gone back to the hotel earlier in the night of June 22, 2023, and gone to sleep, locking the door.

Coroner Margaret Taylor told an earlier hearing in Cumbria that 'John had arrived home mid-morning and decided to go for breakfast'.

'After breakfast he found the apartment door locked and he couldn't wake up his friend,' she continued.

'He therefore went outside and saw that the balcony patio door was open.

'He believed he could climb up on to the adjoining balcony and jump across on to his own, but very tragically during the jump he fell, sustaining a fatal head injury.'

His death was reported t 10.45am that morning. 

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The 6ft 4in electrician had a love for football and played for Sunday team Scotby FC. The club said it had 'lost a legend and an even better person'.

A minute's silence was held at Carlisle United following the tragedy and his mother said he would have been 'so proud'. Watching Carlisle United get promoted at Wembley was the best time of his life, the inquest heard.

Cockermouth Coroners' Court heard that 22 trees had been planted at Scotby FC in Mr McKenna's memory - a tree for each year of his life.

Thousands of pounds have since been raised for Jack the Lad, a charity which campaigns for safer holidays abroad for the UK's young people.

Mr McKenna, who lived in Crosby-on-Eden, had attended William Howard School and left with good exam results. He qualified as an electrician in 2022.

A witness to his fall reported seeing a man jumping from one balcony to another. Mr McKenna was given assistance but was declared dead at the scene.

The inquest heard the railing on the balcony connected to his room was 'easily overcome'.

A post-mortem carried out on the island found alcohol, ketamine, MDMA and cocaine in his system. After Mr McKenna's body was repatriated, a further post-mortem was carried out and corroborated these findings.

Kirsty Gomersal, area coroner for Cumbria, said the combination of the substances taken would have affected his coordination and his approach to risk. 

A CT scan was also carried out and showed a complex skull fracture and a brain injury - listed as his cause of death.

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His mother said: 'Following the accident, we were in shock. Now we have had time to reflect, we would like to thank the community for their incredible support following John's passing.'

His family said he was a 'much loved son, brother, grandson and friend to so many and we thank people for their overwhelming support'.

Scotby FC club secretary Martin Purdie said: 'We haven't just lost a teammate, we have lost a friend.'

He had played for the side since the age of 16.

'We have all seen him grow up into this brilliant, kind young man that he has become,' Mr Purdie added.

'He was competitive - I don't think he'd mind me saying that about him - he was very talented player as well, and also with him being 6ft 4ins or thereabouts he was a fearsome opponent for a lot of centre forwards that came up against him.

'It's a bit of a cliche but he definitely was the life and soul of the party - there was definitely never a dull moment with John.'