British holidaymaker dies in freak accident

A BRITISH holidaymaker has died after crashing through a fifth-floor hotel window during a daring forfeit for losing a game of cards against two university friends.

Student Mark David Day, 20, had to strip off in Majorca and run along a hotel corridor in just his socks and underpants after losing a game of poker with two holiday pals. But he lost his balance and failed to stop as he careered towards a window at the end of the passageway.

Pals Marc Smart and Steve Kimberley, both 21, watched in horror as he smashed through the glass and fell more than 40 feet at the three-star Majorca Beach Hotel in the partyresort of Magalluf.

Paramedics tried desperately to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Last night Londoner Mark’s pals, who studied with him at the University of Essex, were helping police piece together the events leading up to Sunday evening’s freak accident.

The pair, who were sharing room 519 with the victim, have been moved to another hotel.

A source said: “The dead man had been playing cards with friends and the forfeit for losing was to run along the hotel corridor in his underwear to a window.

“We’re not clear yet whether he slipped because he lost his balance as he ran with just his socks on or whether he was running too fast and couldn’t stop in time. But he didn’t stop in time and he crashed through the window and fell more than 40 feet from the corridor, which was on the fifth floor. We believe the victim had been drinking and that may also have impaired his judgment.”

Nobody at the hotel was available for comment.

It had been thought originally that the dead man had been playing a daring game that involved jumping between hotel balconies.

Although police have ruled out any foul play, an investigating judge has taken charge of a routine probe into the death.