Safety call after balcony death

The family of a tourist who died after falling more than 60ft (18.2m) from a balcony has called for better safety measures in foreign hotels.

Adam Thomas, 22, from Llangynwyd near Maesteg, Bridgend county, fell from the fifth-floor balcony last Friday.

Mr Thomas, a steelworker, and girlfriend Leah Powell, 27, were on holiday in the resort of Icmeler, on Turkey's south-east coast.

Ms Powell's father Roger said Mr Thomas had a history of sleepwalking.

Mr Thomas had been enjoying his first holiday outside the UK and Ireland when he fell. He died on hospital on Saturday.

In a statement, his parents Tudor and Shirley Thomas said their son "enjoyed life and had everything to live for".

"The family and friends of Adam are shocked and upset after this tragic accident, which has robbed a talented and bright young man of his life.

"He was always cheerful and had a big smile for everyone, he enjoyed his music, his friends and especially his family"
Thomas family statement

"We feel the incident highlights the issue of balcony safety in holiday hotels and we believe this should be focused on to prevent similar tragedies in future.

"He was happy to be enjoying his holiday with Leah. He went Jet-skiing, para-gliding and had been on a land safari. He had been looking forward to the holiday and was trying to make the most of it.

"He was always cheerful and had a big smile for everyone. He enjoyed his music, his friends and especially his family."

The family said Mr Thomas had been a talented musician who loved his job, girlfriend and family.

They added that reports he was depressed were "totally inaccurate" and that Turkish police were treating the death as an accident.

Ms Powell, who had been in a relationship with Mr Thomas for eight months and returned to Wales on Sunday night, said: "I'm devastated by what has happened.

"We were very much in love and having a great time on holiday."

She said she had fallen asleep while her partner smoked a cigarette outside. She only realised he had fallen when hotel staff woke her up.

Her father Roger said: "He was a happy-go-lucky boy. They were both very happy and enjoying themselves.

"Apparently he has a history of sleepwalking. That is all I can think happened. Other than that we don't know what happened," said Mr Powell, landlord of the Elderbush Hotel in Nantyffyllon, Maesteg.

Mr Thomas, a former Maesteg Comprehensive School pupil, worked for steel company Corus. He also sang and played guitar in a band with friends.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said consular assistance was being provided to the Thomas family. They are now awaiting the return of his body to the UK.