IT’S a world-famous venue known for its wild poolside parties, youthful crowds and sun-soaked performances by A-listers like Stormzy, Craig David, Becky Hill and Ed Sheeran.
But amid the blaring beats, Ibiza Rocks Hotel has played host to a string of tragedies – from horrific balcony plunges to the violent death of a British ex-rugby league star.
Two weeks ago at the legendary party hotel in San Antonio after suffering a cardiac arrest – with paramedics unable to save her.
Tragically, just three days earlier a 19-year-old Italian tourist had plunged to her death from the fourth floor of the same hotel after returning from a night out in the island’s capital, Town.
The teenager, of Turkish origin, is reported to have fallen from the terrifying height while trying to enter her room from a shared area because she didn’t have her room key.
The shocking deaths are the latest tragedies to hit the adults-only venue – where its legendary poolside events draw crowds of up to 3,000 partygoers, many of whom are Brits.
Located just metres from one of the world’s most famous sunset spots, Ibiza Rocks Hotel has more than 360 rooms, with the priciest offering balconies with an enviable stage view.
Stars who have taken to the outdoor stage include Dizzee Rascal, , , Rudimental, Swedish House Mafia and Anne-Marie.
Parties are open to both hotel residents and non-guests, with Ibiza Rocks fan and Londoner Hanieh Vidmar describing them as “real close-up”;; events that offer a “brilliant vibe”;;.
“We always went VIP so we got the best view, and were right by the bar,”;; Hanieh, now anutritional therapist, told The Sun. “I’ve got some great memories there.”;;
Yet while the hotel has a zero-tolerance drugs policy – with rule-breakers facing immediate eviction – some holidaymakers claim to have witnessed “blatant drug activity”;; at the venue.
One guest claimed on Tripadvisor that “druggies were sniffing lines of coke off the side of the pool and sun loungers”;;, while a partygoer told The Sun there were “a lot”;; of drugs.
The British mum, who attended a event at the hotel but did not wish to be identified, told us: “There was a lot of alcohol and drugs, but it never felt totally out of control.
“I wouldn’t have thought anything fatal would happen there. Everyone was just having a good time.”;;
Overdose horror
Yet in 2008, the same year that Ibiza Rocks Hotel opened its doors, a 23-year-old British holidaymaker collapsed at the venue after overdosing on a cocktail of drink and drugs.
Michael Robertson later died in hospital, having suffered heart failure. He was found to have traces of cocaine in his body, as well as ecstasy and booze, the Daily Mail reported.
Six years later Ibiza Rocks Hotel guest Luke Rhoden – who had become agitated after taking drugs –by baton-wielding Spanish police.
Best Man Luke, who had travelled from , Greater Manchester, to Ibiza for his pal’s stag do, was overheard pleading “I don’t want to die”;; before Guardia Civil officers held him down.
An inquest heard how officers applied pressure to the 25-year-old’s neck with a , despite a doctor warning them that they were “going to kill”;; him.
“They put a strong baton on his neck. I said, ‘You are asphyxiating him; you are going to kill him. I said this three times,”;; Dr Santiago Akoskin told jurors at Bolton’s Coroner’s Court.
Luke, a former rugby league player, had consumed drugs, including cocaine and , and alcohol before officers were called to Ibiza Rocks Hotel in September 2014.
The inquest was told that, prior to his struggle with police, Luke had accidentally fallen from a balcony at the hotel, before allegedly ranting at guests and refusing medical treatment.
Excessive force
Yet Dr Akoskin told the court that cocaine “is not enough to kill”;;, and that he himself took care of “nine to 12”;; patients in Luke’s condition each week and “not one dies”;;.
“I have patients in worse conditions,”;; added the medic.
In a damning verdict in 2016, jurors found that Luke died of asphyxiation – caused by excessive force used by the officers – and an adverse reaction to drugs.
Grieving loved ones have since called for “justice”;; for Luke, emphasising that many young people “indulge in drug use”;; in Ibiza, “even if it’s the only time they have ever done it”;;.
Last year The Sun revealed how groups of migrants – who once peddled fake Gucci sunglasses – wereoffering to partygoers on the island.
We found Brits were at the centre of the use and supply of the deadly substance – a psychedelic mix of ketamine and ecstasy, along with so-called ‘dealers’ leftovers’.
Toxic drug
Spanish authorities said the drug is so toxic it’s “like a bomb”;; going off.
In 2022 a dozen people, who police said were “mostly Brits”;;, were busted with 13 kilos of pink cocaine in Ibiza. An ex-Ibizan police chief told us: “Brits are so brazen they will pack pink coke in their suitcase to sell to fund their holiday.”;;
Of course, as well as the inherent health risks, substances like pink coke can increase the likelihood of holidaymakers engaging in dangerous activities while in Ibiza.
In July 2023, a British tourist was filmed edging across a narrow ledge above the courtyard at Ibiza Rocks Hotel, while a terrified woman yelled: “Get down! For f***’s sake!”;;
Charlie Brooke Walsh, 19, who captured the stomach-churning footage, said the man was “removed”;; by security after reaching the other side of the ledge unscathed.
“I want to raise awareness about people who fall off balconies on holiday after taking substances or drinking,”;; Charlie, a dental nurse from the UK, said at the time.
Tragic deaths
While that holidaymaker was lucky to cheat death, others have been killed or left critically injured after plunging from balconies in Ibiza, includingat Ibiza Rocks Hotel in August 2018.
There is no suggestion the man had taken drugs before his fall.
Joanne Brine, an expert in accidents abroad and a partner in the travel litigation team atJMW Solicitors, told us: “We regularly see serious injuries to holidaymakers in Ibiza, and often it seems to me that a factor is that we are all a bit more risk-averse when on holiday.”;;
In some cases, she added, “it’s risk-taking by the individual that causes the injury”;;.
In other tragedies it is simply a case of heartbreaking misfortune.
Tourist – a 23-year-old mum from Coleraine, Northern Ireland – died in her sleep at Ibiza Rocks Hotel five years ago after going for a nap in her room.
Amy, described as a “blazing star”;;, “so friendly”;; and “one of a kind”;; by loved ones, had been sunbathing with her sister, Toni, before they went back to their room to rest.
Toni, 26, toldBelfast Live: “We had been down to the pool and then came back up to the room for a while, so Amy got into the shower and then got into bed.
“I went and sat out on the balcony and ate some crisps and chilled and when I came back in, she was still in the bed... it was so surreal, it didn’t make sense.
“It was just such a shock.”;;
A devastating final photo shows Amy beaming beside Toni on the 2020 holiday.
Toni added that she was “gob-smacked”;; at the generosity of hotel staff following the tragedy, saying they packed her suitcases, provided food and offered her a free hotel in London.
The cause of Amy’s sudden death was reported to be unclear at the time.
Latest horror
The cause of the latest tragedy at Ibiza Rocks Hotel – the unidentified British woman– is said to have been a cardiac arrest.
The woman had a pre-existing heart condition and was wearing an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a small battery-powered device, in her chest, according to local reports.
Such devices detect and treat irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias.
Emergency services raced to the hotel after the alarm was raised on the evening of April 30. Despite performing CPR on the woman for 40 minutes, they were unable to save her.
Ibiza Rocks Hotel – formerlycalled Club Paraiso Mediterraneo – expressed its dismay at the deaths of both the woman and the Italian tourist days earlier, which happened “due to causes beyond our control”;;. It also extended its “utmost support”;; to the victims’ families.
This summer thousands more holidaymakers will flock to the hotel for what event organisers have described as “a season full of memories, music and moments we’ll never forget”;;.
Let’s hope the moments are unforgettable for the right reasons.
The Sun has contacted Ibiza Rocks Hotel for comment.
