A BRIT dad tragically died on holiday in Majorca while taking a late night walk and falling from a 15ft cliff, an inquest heard.
Ben Clark, 41, died instantly after he fell into a rocky area in Cala Agulla in the early hours of the morning on June 26 last year.
Ben Clark, 41, died last year after falling 15ft in a rocky area of Majorca Credit: Solarpix
An inquest heard that Ben was intoxicated while taking a late night walk Credit: Solarpix
The dad, who lived in Andover, Hampshire, was holidaying with his daughter, Kaci Fraya, for the first time, which he was “really excited” about.
Winchester Coroner’s Court heard on Tuesday that the pair had become friends with another British woman and her aunt who they socialised around the pool with on their trip.
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Area coroner Jason Pegg said the evidence showed there was clearly “some attraction” between Ben and the woman, Nicky Foers.
They decided to go for a walk together down to the beach at around 11.30pm that evening.
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Ben has been described as ‘one of the good ones’ Credit: Solarpix
Ben had been on holiday with his daughter Credit: Solarpix
The coroner said it seems “slightly unclear” what caused Ben to fall from the cliff but believed alcohol probably contributed to him losing his footing.
Mr Pegg said: “All of you, particularly your dad, had consumed alcohol.
“He was not completely staggering around and out of it, but [had been] drinking nonetheless.
“There came a time on that cliff top where your dad was looking out to sea, Ms Foers looking into land, in close proximity.”
He said it was unclear what happened prior to the fall, but there was a possibility they went to hug each other and lost their balance.
Nicky told the inquest her last memory before the fall was being stood face to face, adding: “I remember seeing my feet, flip-flops coming off and just rolling and rolling and rolling.
“I’m guessing he would have given me a hug and that’s what made me stumble back.”
She said when she came round, as she believed she was unconscious, she thought Ben had not fallen and she had just slipped.
“I didn’t know if he panicked, gone to find help, I didn’t even think he’d fell,” she said.
The coroner recorded Ben’s death as an accident, after he fell down the footpath on to the beach below, causing multiple rib fractures.
These injuries caused pulmonary haemorrhage – bleeding in the lungs – which led to respiratory failure.
“Ben was intoxicated with alcohol which contributed to death,” he said.
The inquest, which was attended by his family, heard Ben was described as really funny, someone who adored his children and was a much-loved grandson, son, brother and father.
At the time Ben’s death was announced, tributes from his friends described him as “one of the good ones” and a “great guy”.
Kaci, in her 20s, shared a picture of the pair smiling along with a red love heart.
Clark is also believed to have been a father to a younger daughter.
Becky Paris said: “Honestly I just spent the majority of the evening blabbering on about how ‘it’s the kind of thing you read about in the newspapers, but think well it wouldn’t ever happen’ as it wasn’t real life.
“Today I am just absolutely heartbroken for you and your little family.
“No words that could make sense of it. You really were one of the good ones mate.”
