A 21-year-old British tourist tragically died in his hotel room just hours after arriving in Benidorm for his first ‘lads holiday’, an inquest has heard.
Harvey Dominy had travelled with three friends to the Spanish resort to enjoy his first week-long holiday abroad with friends.
The holiday took a fatal turn after Harvey consumed a mix of alcohol and drugs, subsequently collapsing and struggling to breathe in full view of his friends, Liam Mason and Levi Davies.
An inquest heard Mr Mason sent a video to their group chat on Snapchat of Harvey ‘slumped in a chair on the balcony’.
Mr Mason then sent a second video over an hour later showing Harvey, of Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, lying on the floor appearing ‘grey’.
He then sent another message to say: ‘He’s gone.’
The inquest heard Harvey’s best friend Liam Llewellyn had gone to bed early as he was staying in a separate hotel when he received a call to say Harvey was unwell.
He said Harvey was talking before he left at 8.30pm and had ‘no concerns’ for his friend.
The inquest heard Harvey was staying on the 15th floor of the hotel with a broken lift when his condition quickly deteriorated.
Harvey Dominy, 21, (pictured) was on holiday with friends in Benidorm on his first ‘lads’ holiday
Harvey consumed a mix of alcohol and drugs, subsequently collapsing and struggling to breathe in full view of his friends, Liam Mason and Levi Davies
Friend Mr Davies said they did not know the emergency services number so Mr Mason left the room to find hotel staff to raise the alarm.
Giving evidence, Mr Davies said: ‘Harvey started to feel unwell. He said he felt sick, and then he was sick.’
Mr Davies said he gave his friend water before he started struggling to breathe.
He said: ‘A short time after, Harvey then lay on the floor and started struggling to breathe.
‘I don’t remember him collapsing. I tried to give him more water but he would spit it back out.
‘I had never seen Harvey in that type of state before.’
The inquest heard the friends had bought cocaine and MDMA when they arrived in Benidorm before taking the drugs together on July 16, 2024.
Harvey’s family raised concerns about the timeline of events after believing there was a delay in getting medical attention for him.
Pictured here are friends and family attending a balloon release to commemorate the passing of Harvey
A post-mortem examination gave a medical cause of death as cardiac respiratory arrest with an underlying cause being an acute reaction to psychoactive substances
The inquest in Pontypridd, South Wales, heard police reports in Spain estimated Harvey died between 9pm and 10.30pm.
Emergency services arrived at the scene at 10.47pm before confirming Harvey had ‘no vital signs.’
A post-mortem examination gave a medical cause of death as cardiac respiratory arrest with an underlying cause being an acute reaction to psychoactive substances.
Toxicology reports showed he had alcohol, cocaine and MDMA in his system.
Friends of the 21-year-old paid their respects in 2024, organising a balloon release near his family home to celebrate his life.
Liam Greenaway wrote: ‘I honestly don’t know what to say, I’ve honestly lost a part of me, my right arm you was my bro.
‘You was so special to everyone but most important to me, honest the best boy ever [you] was brother.’
The inquest in Pontypridd continues.