Inside Ibiza ‘death hotel’ on lockdown after two Brits die in a month… as rooftop guards watch tourists & parties banned
IBIZA Rocks is on lockdown after its fourth death in just three months – with parties cancelled, heightened security and night-time patrols.
Staff at the popular San Antonio party spot are on edge – with non-guests banned from the hotel and security guards pacing the roof with torches at night.
After a spate of tragic tourist deaths at the hotel, The Sun visited the infamous resort.
At least seven holidaymakers have died at Ibiza Rocks – dubbed the “Death Hotel”.
And the death of two Brits – Evan Thomson, 26, and Gary Kelly, 19 – in just three weeks sparked the cancellation of all upcoming events “out of respect”.
While the hotel’s pool is still packed with party-goers, security guards have ramped up patrols – particularly at night – and blocked off the entrance to the building.
Hotel guest Layla Right, 25, from Newcastle, revealed how staff have been patrolling the roof at night and beaming torches at anyone “d*****g around” on the balconies.
She told us: “As soon as they see anyone being silly on the balconies, they flash the torch straight at them.
“They must be terrified of it happening again.
“There was an Australian bloke hanging off the balcony earlier and they were onto him in a flash.”
Layla said it was “eerie” the morning after Gary died – but added that the atmosphere is back to normal now.
And she said guests are under the impression that the events will be resumed this week.
Layla’s pal Lee, 30, bumped into Gary’s heartbroken friends outside the hotel after the tragedy on July 21.
Gary plunged from a third floor balcony at the four-star hotel – and paramedics could do nothing to save him at the scene.
Lee said: “You could see they were absolutely devastated.
“And they’re still staying there now – they’ve said they know it’s what he would have wanted.
“So they’ve stayed on to honour his memory.”
Gary – a keen ice hockey player – had arrived just hours before he died and police are still investigating his death.
Two weeks earlier, Evan Thomson, 26, from Aberdeen, died in similar circumstances after a fall from a sixth-floor balcony.
Evan’s loved ones slammed the hotel’s response in the following days.
They claimed they were stuck in an office for hours without answers and heard pressure washers cleaning the spot where he fell just 90 minutes after he fell.
The hotel has temporarily cut its daytime DJ party programme, which usually pumps out music by the pool until 8pm.
But £18 tickets are currently available online for non-guests for the “Love Juice Ibiza Day Party – which happens every Saturday.
Harry Harknett, 25, from Bedfordshire, checked into Ibiza Rocks on Monday just hours after Gary’s death – to find a letter offering them compensation.
He said: “We weren’t told anything about the death by the hotel, which felt a bit odd.
“The first I knew about it was when I looked at the news, and I’d already checked in by then.
“We got a letter under the bedroom door explaining that the events have been cancelled due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’, and offering everyone compensation.
“Other than a strong security presence, you wouldn’t know anything had happened.
“The vibe is still upbeat inside – the pool was absolutely packed at 2pm today.”
The pool and dancefloor are usually accessible to non-guests if they buy a day pass, but The Sun was turned away when we tried to buy one on Wednesday.
And security guards have taken up positions on the street – meaning you can’t get within 40 metres of the hotel entrance without a booking.
Jack Cairns, 27, from Southampton, is staying with four mates for a week at Ibiza Rocks and arrived on Sunday – a day before Gary fell.
He said: “It’s so sad. Not what you want to hear when you get to a hotel.
“I don’t know how it happened exactly [to Gary]. But I do think the railings on the balconies could be higher.
“Some of the third-floor balconies have railings that are barely waist height.
“When it’s a party hotel, it makes sense to have more than that.”
Harry called for higher barriers around the balconies – something “up around chest height”.
Jack continued: “I’ve definitely noticed that security ramped up.
“You see them patrolling the corridors which they didn’t do before.
“Most people know what’s happened because all the events have been cancelled – which is the main reason most people booked the place.”
Some guests staying at the hotel had heard nothing of the recent deaths until they were approached by The Sun.
Evan’s friends said the hotel’s handling of the situation was “horrific” on the night he died.
His pal Blair Robertson, 25, told Press and Journal: “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.”
Another pal, James Shand, said: “Seeing them post ‘are you all ready for the next event?’ within hours of it happening was sickening.
“If something like this happened in the UK, the place would get shut down.”
Two deaths rocked Ibiza in April when a British woman collapsed and died in her room.
Paramedics and police rushed to the hotel but pronounced the 33-year-old dead after 40 minutes trying to resuscitate her.
Just three days earlier, a 19-year-old Italian tourist died after she fell from the fourth-floor of the hotel.
The woman is said to have been partying late into the night before returning to her room and finding she was locked out.
In August 2020, another incident saw a young woman pass away in her sleep as she stayed at the hotel.
Amy Connor, 23, had been sunbathing with her sister and their friends before heading back to her room to shower and have a nap.
The seventh reported death at Ibiza Rocks dates back to 2008.
British holidaymaker Michael Robertson, 23, collapsed at the hotel after taking ecstasy.
He was rushed to the Can Misses Hospital but passed away suffering repeated heart failure.
After Gary’s death, Ibiza Rocks said in a statement: “The safety and well-being of our guests has, and always will remain, our highest priority.
“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.”
Full statement from Ibiza Rocks
“We continue to work closely with the authorities and our thoughts and support remain with everyone impacted.
“Much of the hard work that goes into safety and security in hotels and venues across the world happens behind closed scenes.
“With thousands of guests passing through our doors every summer, it takes a collective effort from our team, security and local partners to maximise safety for all.
“In times like these, care matters – but so does action.
“We have zero tolerance for any behaviour that puts our guests or our team at risk and we are building on the strong work we already do to go even further.
“Out of respect and privacy for the people involved, we don’t usually comment on individual reports posted online, but that certainly doesn’t mean we’re not always listening.
“We’re committed to working with anyone who raises solid concerns so that we can establish the facts and take the appropriate steps.
“Our hotel remains open and more information on the future events programme will be shared as soon as possible.”