British tourist plunges to death from balcony just hours after proposing to girlfriend on holiday
A British tourist on holiday in Greece plunged to his death just hours after proposing to his girlfriend, an inquest heard
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A British tourist on holiday in Greece plunged to his death just hours after proposing to his girlfriend, an inquest heard.
Stephen Willits dropped from the third floor of a hotel in Corfu in August 2020 and suffered traumatic injuries.
An inquest ruled that the cause of his fall is unknown but he was "heavily intoxicated" at the time.
The 45-year-old had returned to his hotel room with his fiancée at around midnight after a meal and drinks.
Stephen Willits dropped from the third floor of a hotel in Corfu in August 2020 GettyAn hour later the Alton Towers worker fell from the balcony.
The inquest heard he was in "good spirits" as he shared the news of his engagement with friends, family and other hotel guests.
His sister Leslie Willits said he had not got "a bad bone in his body".
"He was the nicest person ever, not a bad bone in his body. He was the best uncle ever," she told StokeonTrent Live.
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The inquest heard Willits had "mild depression", but had no history of suicidal thoughts or acute mental health illness.
Staffordshire assistant coroner Daniel Howe said: "Stephen died as a result of falling from height.
"He seemed to be in good spirits. He had proposed to his girlfriend that day and was happy about it.
"He made positive comments to family, on Facebook, and to other residents at the hotel.
"I’m satisfied that he was heavily intoxicated from the toxicology report. Why he approached the balcony, I cannot determine."
Another case on the same island heard how a British policewoman died on holiday in Corfu following an "accidental fall", Greek authorities said.
Leading coroner Ioannis Aivatidis said the woman likely died from a "low level fall" before being found on a side street in Kavos.