Coroner attacks carer’s conduct before man’s Tenerife fall death

A coroner has criticised the conduct of a carer who argued with an autistic man hours before he fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Tenerife.

Jamie Cole, 25, from Weston-super-Mare, was accompanied on holiday by carer Lousha Rees who worked for private care company Lifestyle, also known as Accomplish.

Mr Cole, who had a history of suicidal thoughts, left Ms Rees after the pair argued over the cost of a restaurant bill on 14 January 2023. He was found dead several hours later, an inquest at Avon Coroner’s Court was told.

Coroner Dr Peter Harrowing said Ms Rees had behaved “inappropriately” prior to Mr Cole’s death but he said he did not believe her actions amounted to gross misconduct.