Pictured: British tourist, 21, who died when he fell from the fifth floor balcony of his hotel in Turkey in a ‘freak accident’ after stepping outside to smoke a cigarette
A British tourist died in a ‘freak accident’ after falling from the fifth floor balcony of a holiday hotel in Turkey during his first night at the resort, family sources have told MailOnline.
Antony Maxwell, 21, had left the hotel room for a cigarette when he fell to his death, while his 33-year-old girlfriend was unpacking inside.
“It’s a nightmare that I just want someone to wake me up and tell me it never happened,” his mother Jade has told friends.
Crane operator Antony, from Maldon, Essex, died from his injuries in the early hours of April 18, despite doctors fighting to save his life following the incident near Antalya, Turkey.
Family sources rejected suggestions that he and his girlfriend had had an argument shortly before his death or that this was related.
Antony Maxwell, 21, had left the hotel room for a cigarette when he fell to his death, while his 33-year-old girlfriend was unpacking inside
After the incident, his girlfriend was questioned by police, apparently as a witness.
The eldest of three children, Antony, better known as Tony, is saddened by his mother Jade, a 39-year-old shop assistant.
The family is raising money to bring him home and cover funeral costs. They have raised over £4,500 of a £6,000 target at one Gofundme page.
A family friend told MailOnline that Antony’s siblings, Harry, 13, and five-year-old Shelby, are struggling to come to terms with the fact that he won’t be coming home, as is his mother.
“Jade is in pieces, everyone loved Tony,” the friend said, “Jade feels so powerless so far away with very little information to go on.
‘She said she just wanted to wake up, or for someone to tell her that it never really happened. All she wants is to bring her son home now so the family can grieve.
“She’s spoken to Tony’s girlfriend, who is just as distraught. It sounds like it’s just a freak accident. They come back on Wednesday, it’s all so terrible.
Crane operator Antony, from Maldon, Essex, died from his injuries in the early hours of April 18, despite doctors fighting to save his life
Family sources rejected suggestions that he and his girlfriend had had an argument shortly before his death or that this was related
A family friend told MailOnline that Antony’s siblings, Harry, 13, and five-year-old Shelby, are struggling to come to terms with the fact he won’t be coming home
The family is raising money to bring him home and cover funeral costs. They have raised more than £4,500 of a £6,000 target on a Gofundme page.
‘We don’t know if the balcony was unsafe or what, but we were told the hotel checked them all the next day and the railway line was very low.
‘They had only just arrived at the resort and while his girlfriend was unpacking, Tony went outside for a cigarette, it’s horrifying.’
The source described Tony as “the kind of young man who would help anyone.” He really started fishing and he had his whole life ahead of him. It’s such a tragedy.’
A post on family friend Kirsty Quilter’s gofundme page reads; ‘No mother should ever have to say goodbye to their child. If you can give anything to help bring this remarkable young man home to his family where he belongs, we would all be grateful.”
An FCDO spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Turkey.’