Family of Brit found dead at the bottom of a lift shaft in Turkey wearing only his boxer shorts says their holiday has become a ‘living nightmare’ and vows to ‘fight for justice’
The family of a 20-year-old British man found dead at the bottom of a lift shaft in Turkey have said their holiday has turned into a “living nightmare” and vowed to fight for justice.
Tyler Kerry was on his first holiday abroad when the tragic incident occurred last week.
He had been traveling through Turkey with his grandparents, brother and girlfriend when the group arrived at an all-inclusive hotel in the popular resort of Antalya.
Alex Price, 42, Kerry’s great uncle, said his cousin had stayed out later than the rest of the family to watch Manchester United’s match against FK Bodø/Glimt on Thursday evening.
Following a search led by his brother Mason, Tyler was found unconscious in the hotel lift shaft at around 7am on Friday, wearing only his boxing shorts, while bloody clothing was found elsewhere in the hotel.
Tyler’s grandmother said: ‘It’s not a holiday anymore, it’s a living nightmare… My brain feels like spaghetti. I have fought non-stop for justice for my son.
“I’ve been crying non-stop and every time I close my eyes all I see is him at the bottom of the lift shaft,” she told the BBC.
The police consider the death as suspicious.
Tyler Kerry and his girlfriend Molly Underdown. Ms Underdown paid tribute on Facebook to her boyfriend, who she described as ‘the most caring, loving, funny boy I have ever met. He lit up every room
Alex Price, 42, his great-uncle, said Mr Kerry had stayed out later than the rest of the family to watch Manchester United’s match against FK Bodø/Glimt. Following a search led by his brother, Mason, Mr Price was found unconscious at around 7am, wearing only his boxing trunks
Mr Kerry was on his first holiday abroad when the tragic incident occurred. He had been traveling through Turkey with his grandparents, brother and girlfriend when the group arrived at an all-inclusive hotel in the popular resort of Antalya.
Now the family hopes Turkish authorities can explain why Tyler’s clothes, cell phone and his blood-stained vapor were found elsewhere in the hotel on the first floor.
Mr Price said The Sunday times that at the time the family was “not so sure how coincidental the situation is” because of some of what they described as “suspicious details” surrounding the incident.
He said: ‘The information given to us is quite limited. I believe the Turkish police were present at the time of the incident and provided no further feedback.”
“The hotel has not provided any information and I believe the elevator shaft where Tyler was found was back up and running within a few hours of the incident.”
Mr Kerry was a working man and Mr Price said he had thought about moving in with his girlfriend Molly Underdown.
Ms Underdown paid tribute to her boyfriend on FaceBook, who she described as ‘the most caring, loving, funny boy I have ever met’.
The grieving woman continued, “He lit up every room he entered with his crazy taps or his jokes. May my boy rest in peace.”
In tribute to his cousin, Tyler’s uncle Alex Price had moving words about the Manchester United-mad football fan.
“He was an energetic, exuberant young man who was just finding his feet in life,” the uncle said.
“He had a steady job, had just gotten a new car and was starting to think about moving in with his girlfriend.”
Since the 20-year-old’s death, a GoFundMe has been set up to help repatriate Tyler’s body to Britain.
Tyler’s family believes he woke up early and left his hotel room to take a walk or get something to eat.
Since the 20-year-old’s death, a GoFundMe has been set up to help repatriate Tyler’s body to Britain. So far, more than €5,000 has been raised
The family hopes that Turkish authorities can explain why his clothes, mobile phone and his blood-stained vapor were found elsewhere in the hotel on the first floor
One theory they consider likely is that Tyler had pressed the elevator button but walked through without it being there.
His uncle said online: ‘We think he may have fallen around 4am our time as he had just before messaged relatives about how great he was having.’
From the family GoFundMe had raised £5,000 on Sunday evening, with more than 100 donations pouring in.
In the description of the page, Tyler’s uncle added that the 20-year-old was “A young man full of personality, kindness and compassion with his whole life ahead of him.”
It said: ‘He was completely devoted to his family and girlfriend Molly. We are all absolutely devastated.”