FCO issues tourist warnings following hotel falls

A series of balcony falls among British tourists has prompted the FCO to issue new travel advice to holidaymakers.

Travel Insurance News - 16/08/2012

<< Woolworths to offer car, travel insurance to Australians | Travel News | Average beach bag contents ‘worth more than £3,000’ >>

A series of balcony falls among British tourists has prompted the FCO to issue new travel advice to holidaymakers.

Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) announced the launch of the new campaign on Wednesday, in which it is urging travellers to “know their limits” and to be familiar with the risks of travelling and partying.

The move comes in cooperation with the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) and follows the death of three British holidaymakers abroad over the summer travel season. All three individuals died from injuries sustained in falls from hotel balconies and staircases and the FCO said another 10 were hospitalised with serious injuries from similar falls.

Officials said to media that heavy alcohol consumption is often a factor, although not in all cases.

The FCO campaign comes alongside a personal effort by 18-year-old Jake Evans of Liverpool, who is distributing safety leaflets to young travellers after falling seven floors from a resort balcony in Magaluf, Majorca.

Evans, who broke several bones, fractured his skull and suffered permanent back damage after a night of drinking said to reporters that he is lucky to be alive and that travellers need to be “sensible” when out partying.

Reports said that the teenager’s fall was broken by a sun lounger, which doctors say likely saved his life.

<< Woolworths to offer car, travel insurance to Australians | Travel News | Average beach bag contents ‘worth more than £3,000’ >>