Soap actor killed in holiday fall

Gethin Rhys Williams died while on holiday with friends

A former member of Welsh language youth drama Rownd a Rownd has died while holidaying in Majorca.

Gethin Rhys Williams, 18, fell from a hotel balcony at the Spanish island's party capital resort Magaluf on Monday, where he was staying with about 15 friends.

Mallorca is a popular destination for young people

A farmer's son from Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd, he had played Sam in the popular soap opera - which translates into Round and Round and is in a similar vein to English television's Byker Grove.

A father of a friend on the trip said that Gethin had been locked out of the room and he then attempted to jump from the fire escape on to the balcony.

It charts the lives and loves of a group of paperboys and girls and has had a regular slot on Welsh language channel S4C for several years, running twice each week for six months.

The teenager had been a member of the Ysgol Glanaethwy acting school in Caernarfon.

But after starring in the drama for five years, he had left acting to train as a camera operator with the Barcud television facilities company.

Second floor

The British Embassy confirmed the accident happened about 0430BST, when Mr Williams fell from a second-floor balcony in a building in Magaluf.

He was rushed to the Femenias Hospital on the island where he died soon after.

One of the series' most captivating and well-loved characters, Mr Williams has been described as "extremely popular".

Meirion Davies, S4C

Co-producer Robin Evans said: "He was a really dependable young man who you could rely on to get the job done with no fuss at all.

"He was a talented actor and a popular member of the cast. Everyone here is devastated and he will be sorely missed.

"I visited his parents this morning and, understandably, they are absolutely shell-shocked."

S4C commissioning editor Meirion Davies said: "Gethin's tragic death is a great loss to the Welsh television industry.

"He had given thousands of Rownd a Rownd viewers great enjoyment over a period of five years playing the character Sam."

'Deepest sympathy'

"One of the series' most captivating and well-loved characters, Gethin himself was also an extremely popular member of the cast," he added.

"We at S4C send our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and the cast and crew of Rownd a Rownd."

Majorca is one of the most popular Balearic destinations for UK tourists.

The population at prime resorts Magaluf and Palma Nova swells at the height of the summer season, with tens of thousands of holidaymakers descending for a good time at the swathes of bars, beaches and attractions.

Ten Britons were killed after falls from Spanish balconies in 2000, according to the Foreign Office - three fewer than 1999 and one less than 1998.