In two separate incidents, a 19-year-old hockey player and a tourist, 26, dropped to their deaths at a popular Ibiza hotel, sparking a massive investigation into the suspicious deaths that happened only 14 days apart.
On July 21, Gary Kelly, a 19-year-old rising star in professional ice hockey, tragically died at Ibiza Rocks, a well-known open-air music venue and party hotspot.
According to the Mirror, Kelly – who played for Scotland’s Dundee Stars – hit the ground after falling from his third-floor balcony.
Emergency officials tried to revive him but sadly, the young athlete was pronounced dead at the scene. Spain’s Civil Guard later confirmed his death “could be accidental.”
Just two weeks earlier, on July 7, 26-year-old Evan Thomson, another Scottish tourist, fell to his death from his sixth-floor balcony at the same hotel in a devastating incident that sent shockwaves through the island’s vibrant party community.
Gary Kelly
Following Kelly’s death, tributes poured in from around the world, remembering him as a “hugely talented and charismatic individual who had a great future ahead of him.”
“His loss will impact many in the ice hockey community and beyond. He will be sadly missed,” the Dundee Stars shared in a statement on the team’s website.
One of the most heartbreaking tributes came from Kelly’s girlfriend, Louise Essery, who posted a moving message online, sharing memories and photos of the couple together.
“I never thought I would be sat here writing a goodbye,” she started in the Facebook post that describes him as “inspiring.”
“I’m struggling to understand how you are no longer with me. It hasn’t really hit me yet. Gary taught and showed me valuable lessons that I’ll carry with me forever,” the grieving Dundee woman wrote. “Everything feels heavy, and words can’t express the love I have for Gary. I wish you could see how much you are loved. Even though our experiences together have paused, the memories we made will stay with me forever. I miss you so much already.”
She added, “I love you forever and always, Gary Kelly.”
Evan Thomson
Only two weeks earlier, Thomson – who was on the island celebrating his 26th birthday with friends and his girlfriend, Remi Duncan – dropped to the ground from his sixth-floor balcony, according to the Mirror.
Despites efforts from emergency officials, the man, from Aberdeen, Scotland, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“I’ll love you forever, my boy,” Duncan wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post that included a photo of her late boyfriend lifting her off her feet.
And Thomson’s mom, Lel Kellighan, also shared a tribute, announcing the death of her son while expressing her immense grief.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken to write and tell you all, earlier this week my son Evan was in a tragic accident whilst on holiday with his friends in Ibiza and sadly passed away. We are all absolutely broken. Please allow us some time,” Kellighan wrote in the July 13 post.
Suspends events
Due to “the seriousness of the situation and out of respect for those involved,” Ibiza Rocks – also an open-air music venue that’s hosted stars like Ed Sheerhan, Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris – recently announced it had suspended its event schedule.
In a statement shared on Facebook, a spokesperson for the hotel wrote: “We are deeply shocked and devastated by the recent incidents that have tragically occurred. Our priority is to support those affected and their loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and to fully assist the authorities with their investigations.”
“The safety and well-being of our guests has, and always will remain, our highest priority,” the statement continued. “Given the seriousness of the situation and out of respect for those involved, we believe it is right to pause our advertised events programme at this time.”
At the moment, there is no further information available on the tragic circumstances leading to the death of these two men but police are investigating.
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below and then share this story so we can hear from others.
READ MORE
- Right-to-die activist shares last message after choosing death
- Teen’s tearful posts hide dark truth behind parents’ deaths
