Tragic Story

Big Nasty · 30-09-2011 3:24pm #1

Girl plunged to her death trying to climb into boy's room on post exam trip to Majorca

A talented student who plunged to her death from a Magaluf hotel had been attempting to climb into a male friend’s room when she fell, an inquest has heard.
Privately educated Grace Ford, 17, had travelled to the resort of Magaluf to celebrate the end of her exams in July last year.
But she suffered horrific injuries after falling more than 90ft when she and fellow holidaymaker, Edward Soppett, 18, attempted to sneak back to his hotel room late at night.
An inquest heard that Miss Ford from Lancashire and Mr Soppett, from Buckinghamshire had been turned away from the apartment block where he was staying by the night porter as the hotel operated a strict no-entry policy for non-guests.
It is thought the pair then found a side window which they believed led to the hotel’s reception area.
Miss Ford, a pupil at the £9,000 a year Kirkham Grammar School, climbed up to the window but tragically it opened into a dark shaft which plummeted 90ft down on to an internal patio area.
The inquest heard that after Miss Ford fell, Mr Soppett returned to his room and went to sleep.
Blackpool coroner, Anne Hind told the inquest: “Miss Ford had probably been helped to climb through this window. We can’t be certain of that, but looking at the height of it, it looks like that is what happened.
“Almost immediately after, the nightwatchman heard a bang. Mr Soppett walked into reception and said, ‘What has happened?’
“He was seen proceeding to go through reception and go to his bedroom. When the police went to question him, he was in bed and fast asleep.”
Mr Soppett was arrested on suspicion of failing to report an accident but after appearing in court was released without charge.
Miss Ford who had been hoping to study at Leeds University, suffered internal bleeding and catastrophic fractures to her legs and pelvis in the fall and had to be placed in a medically induced coma.
Her devastated parents, Suzanne and Chris – a successful businessman – flew out to be at her bedside, but she died 12 days after the fall, when an infection set in.
Yesterday following the inquest a family friend, described Miss Ford’s death as a “tragic waste”.
Steven Hall, who also flew out to Majorca following the accident, said: “She was a stunning girl in every respect. She was a straight A student and a wonderful athlete. “Everything she did was to the best of her ability. She never did anything by half. It's just a waste.”
The cause of death was given as complications due to multiple injuries received in the fall.
In recording a verdict of accidental death, Miss Hind said: “She was 17 years old, which is one of the most heartbreaking aspects of all.
“Her short life has ended because of this terrible thing. All this promise she had of a wonderful life was brought to an end.”
- Martin Evans
© Telegraph.co.uk

What a waste of a life!

And what about the boyfriend?

Gary4279 · 30-09-2011 3:30pm

What and incredibly stupid thing to do.

Biggins · 30-09-2011 3:34pm

Seen her picture in the Mail (HERE).
Beautiful girl indeed. Very tragic.

SEPT 23 1989 · 30-09-2011 3:35pm

Falling from Grace etc etc

LeeHoffmann · 30-09-2011 3:36pm

after Miss Ford fell, Mr Soppett returned to his room and went to sleep.

:eek:

edit:

Edward Soppet, who was later released after telling a judge he was unaware Grace had fallen

(from Biggins' link)

SEPT 23 1989 · 30-09-2011 3:36pm

LeeHoffmann wrote: »

:eek:

That would be the gargle

McBauer · 30-09-2011 3:37pm

No offence OP (and not trying to backseat Mod!) but is there really need for a thread like this in After Hours? I don't feel any better for reading what happened to that poor girl and I can see this thread filling up very quickly with the usual "What a stupid girl" type replys. Just my 2 cents!

Biggins · 30-09-2011 3:39pm

McBauer wrote: »

No offence OP (and not trying to backseat Mod!) but is there really need for a thread like this in After Hours? I don't feel any better for reading what happened to that poor girl and I can see this thread filling up very quickly with the usual "What a stupid girl" type replys. Just my 2 cents!

It shouldn't be joked about really but there is no harm in posting about it - if only to serve as a warning to others not to try similar.
Just an opinion.

WindSock · 30-09-2011 3:40pm

90ft, that's some drop. The things hot women have to do for a ride these days.

mikemac · 30-09-2011 3:40pm

There's been at least five British people who had died by falling on their holidays in the last month
Maybe more then five, common occurance

Privately educated Grace Ford, 17,
Miss Ford, a pupil at the £9,000 a year Kirkham Grammar School, climbed

Good old Daily Mail, obsessed with things like this.
You can read a lot of stories and they will include the value of the family house too

MagicMarker · 30-09-2011 3:42pm

Since when do rich people go to Magaluf?

Blatter · 30-09-2011 3:42pm

I think 17 is too young to be going partying in places like Magaluf without adult supervision .

Biggins · 30-09-2011 3:45pm

mikemac wrote: »

...Good old Daily Mail, obsessed with things like this.
You can read a lot of stories and they will include the value of the family house too

Won't sidetrack thread much but will just say that its the usual low standard quality reporting from them.
What can one expect!

hondasam · 30-09-2011 3:46pm

OP while it is tragic there are plenty of sad stories to report in Ireland.

RichieC · 30-09-2011 3:46pm

Blatter wrote: »

I think 17 is too young to be going partying in places like Magaluf without adult supervision .

people are killed doing stupid things on holidays at all ages.

Latchy · 30-09-2011 3:52pm

'' the window opened into a dark shaft and she plummeted 90ft down on to an internal patio area. ''

You sometimes see this style of building design on holiday and if your not aware of it ( which she obiously wasn't ) you might think once opened, it's just a drop onto the floor and in darkness trying to enter with a drink or two on ya ... fatal.

Blatter · 30-09-2011 3:53pm

RichieC wrote: »

Blatter wrote: »

I think 17 is too young to be going partying in places like Magaluf without adult supervision .

people are killed doing stupid things on holidays at all ages.

Yes but in general, the older people are, the more common sense they will have.

At 17, there's a good chance the person will be still in the 'I'll do really stupid things to impress my friends' stage, which often leads to tragic accidents.

At 18 or 19, you'd be less likely to be in that stage, or at least you wouldn't be as bad if you were in that stage.