Mystery surrounds death of man who fell from hotel on Turkish holiday

Mystery surrounds death of British man, 34, who fell to his death from fourth-floor balcony during Turkish holiday with his girlfriend as inquest rules witness details ‘inconsistent’

• Ryan Collier had serious injuries from his fall at the Sun Apart Hotel, Marmaris
• He died two weeks later in October 2020 and an open conclusion was recorded 
• A Sunderland coroner said it was ‘impossible’ to tell reasons behind his death 

Mystery surrounds the death of a British man who fell to his death from the fourth-floor balcony of his hotel while on holiday in Turkey with his girlfriend – as an inquest says witness details are ‘inconsistent’. 

Ryan Collier, 34, passed away in October 2020 almost two weeks after suffering serious injuries in the fall at the Sun Apart Hotel in Marmaris.

He was at the resort with his partner Donna Noble while on a break from his security job in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, when tragedy struck.

Coroner officer Vicky Ross said six witness statements had been received and there were ‘inconsistent details’ in their accounts. 

Mystery surrounds the death of British man Ryan Collier (pictured) who fell to his death from the fourth-floor balcony of his hotel while on holiday in Turkey

Sunderland senior coroner Derek Winter concluded an inquest which was first opened shortly after Ryan’s death, saying it was ‘impossible’ to tell whether Collier had taken his own life or had fallen accidentally. 

Ms Ross said: ‘Four witnesses say people were shouting for him to get down but he quickly came off the balcony.’

Ryan’s partner’s daughter stated she saw him standing on the railings before he ‘suddenly jumped down’. His partner also said he had been standing on the railings and ‘suddenly jumped’.

Other witnesses referred to Ryan hanging from the balcony or sitting on the railings.

Mrs Ross said considerable efforts had been made in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to obtain more evidence, including text messages exchanged between the group, but nothing else had been forthcoming.

Recording an open conclusion, Mr Winter said it was impossible to be sure why Ryan had fallen and whether he had intended to take his own life or fallen accidentally: ‘If I knew that, I would record the appropriate conclusion,’ he said.

The 34-year-old passed away in October 2020 almost two weeks after suffering serious injuries in the fall at the Sun Apart Hotel in Marmaris (pictured)

Speaking after the hearing, Ryan’s father Brian, 66, said: ‘The outcome is what we expected. The big fear was him saying Ryan had committed suicide – we knew he did not.

‘We will probably never find all the answers.’

The inquest heard pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton had found the death was due to bronchial pneumonia as a result of a blunt head injury.

Ryan had been to a restaurant with his partner, her daughter and a friend and, according to some witnesses, an argument had broken out causing him to leave, though he did return later.

The group went for a drink at their hotel. Ryan said he was going back to the room and a short time later, was seen on the balcony.

He was taken to a private hospital in Turkey, where he was put on life support after suffering a cardiac arrest, the Sunderland Echo reported previously. 

Ryan suffered a fractured skill, broken neck and swelling of the brain, said his family.  

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