Man rowed with carer before fatal Tenerife balcony fall

The mother of a 25-year-old man with autism has accused his carer of unprofessional conduct before he fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Tenerife, an inquest heard.

Jamie Cole from Bristol was accompanied on holiday by a carer who he left after reportedly becoming upset about the cost of a restaurant bill on 14 January 2025. He was found dead hours later.

During his inquest on Thursday, his mother Martine Cole, from Devon, questioned why he was left alone in a fifth floor room after the row.

His mother told the inquest that before his death, Jamie’s last words to a stranger after he fell were “I did not mean to do it”.

On the first day of his inquest at Avon Coroner’s Court, it was heard that Jamie had psychoaffective disorder in remission. He had been accompanied on holiday by a carer from the private company Accomplish, which was jointly commissioned by Bristol City Council and the NHS.

His mother told the hearing that Jamie had walked out of a restaurant because he was upset he would have to pay for the “most expensive meal” on the menu.

Mrs Cole said his carer, called Lousha Rees, also told him he would have to pay for “two carers on holiday” [in future], which would have made him “feel anxious”.

The inquest was told later Ms Rees texted Jamie saying: “I am not chasing after you, you’ve been acting like at 12-year-old. It’s totally out of order.”

Mrs Cole said Jamie replied “I am heading home”, to which Ms Rees told him to “do your thing”.

Ms Rees submitted a written statement to the inquest. She said Jamie had been introducing her as his girlfriend which made her feel uncomfortable and was inappropriate.

When she returned to the hotel, she checked on him and he said he was fine, Ms Rees added.

According to pathologist Dr Edward Sheffield, Jamie died from multiple injuries after falling off a balcony.

Mrs Cole said after the incident she obtained Jamie’s phone and found the final messages he sent was to a manager from the care company.

He said: “I am going to jump now. Can you tell everyone I love them including my mum.”

Mrs Cole said the manager, Laura Warrant, responded by telling him to “stop being silly and Lousha would be back to hotel soon”.

His mother asked the inquest why the manager did not call the hotel or police.

“Someone could have got to Jamie before he fell,” she said.

When asked about her final text message, Ms Warrant burst into tears.

She said she called Ms Rees who reassured her that she had knocked on Jamie’s door and he was fine.

Ms Warrant added that Ms Rees’ angry reaction to Jamie at the restaurant was “not appropriate”.

“Jamie was hysterical and that should have been de-escalated before it got to the point where he walked out,” she said.

“Lousha should have walked out after him straight away.”

Jamie’s mental health worker, Simon Bedding, cried after he read out Ms Rees’ texts, saying they would have had a significant impact on his anxiety.

The inquest is expected to end on Friday.

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