I found girl, 11, dead after balcony plunge in Majorca… staff refused to leave reception & said they had no first-aiders
A HOLIDAYMAKER has blasted a hotel’s “non-existent” response to an Irish girl, 11, falling 65ft off a balcony to her death.
Jamie Hall, 34, was one of the first responders when Clodagh Phelan was found lifeless on the Spanish island of Majorca on Monday.
The flooring fitter saw a “very distressed” couple who had spotted her below their balcony at Club Mac Alcudia Resort.
He entered their room with another guest and found the girl, from County Wicklow, Ireland, lying unresponsive on the surface roof shortly before 6.30am.
Jamie said: “I just knew straight away that she had sadly already passed away. I fear she’d been there for a few hours.
“We ran to the hotel reception to get professional medical assistance but these two members of staff didn’t seem to have a care in the world.
“I asked for help and told them a child may be dead but they said they were not allowed to leave reception and there were no first aiders on site.
“They said all they could do is call for an ambulance, which they did as if they hadn’t already. But we found out the couple had already reported it to reception around 6.10am.
“We found a security guard while running back to the room and told him we urgently needed help but he just casually strolled after us.
“He eventually got to the room, climbed over the balcony and started shaking the girl asking ‘hello’ before looking at us, saying ‘no’ and climbing back. It was hopeless.”
Jamie and the other guest began making their way up Jupiter block to find her parents.
Jamie, from Bedford, then took them down to where medics had since started working under parasols.
Forensic police investigated and cleared the scene by around 9am.
Dad of two Jamie, on a Jet2 holiday with his fiancee and daughters aged five and 10, hopes the incident provides a “major wake up call” for the 3-star hotel.
He added: “I fear that this could very easily happen again. What if the girl was savable?
“That 20 minute window would have been so vital and could have meant life or death but it would have been too late.
“The response was disgusting. I couldn’t believe how shocking the health and safety procedures were.
“This needs to be a wake up call – not just for this hotel but for all hotels. I wouldn’t take my kids back there and need to warn others.
A hotel guest like myself should not be the one checking the body and finding the parents.
Jamie
“The hotel called me in to give a statement but they seemed more concerned with their own reputation and getting me not to talk to the press about their non-existent response.
“I told them ‘do you not think you should invest in some safety nets’ but they said they couldn’t do that. I guess it won’t look pretty but health and safety is more important.
“The balconies aren’t very high – around 4ft – and some are in children’s rooms. It wasn’t made clear that you’re able to lock them either.
“A hotel guest like myself should not be the one checking the body and finding the parents. It should be their responsibility as they have a duty of care.
“I’m having counselling to deal with what happened as I’m suffering nightmares and sleepless nights. I can still hear the parents’ screams.
“Now I can’t keep my eyes off my own kids and I just feel so bad for the little girl’s poor family. This could have been prevented.”
Club Mac was approached for comment.
