Brit tourist arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after ‘wife falls from balcony’

A British holidaymaker has been arrested after his wife was critically injured falling from the sixth-floor balcony of their hotel in Benidorm.

The man, 40, is being held by Spanish police on suspicion of attempted homicide over the incident at the four-star Rio Park shortly after midnight on Saturday.

His wife, 36, who is also British, suffered multiple injuries in the fall and is fighting for life at the Hospital Marina Baixa in Villajoyosa.

Local reports say witnesses have told police the man was in their hotel room and the woman on the balcony when she went over the edge.

A well-placed source said: ‘It is too early at this stage to say what happened, and whether this was an accident or attempted suicide or a crime.

‘Hopefully everything will become a bit clearer in the coming hours.’

A spokesman for Spain’s National Police confirmed: ‘Officers have arrested a British man on suspicion of attempted homicide after his wife who is also British plunged from the sixth-floor balcony of their hotel in Benidorm.

‘The arrest is a preventative measure and it will be up to a judge to decide what happens next after the man appears before him in the next day or so.

‘The couple were sharing the same room and we are talking about a foreigner who has no ties to Spain so we are under an obligation to make the arrest as we try to determine what happened.’

The hotel where the incident happened is set in a quiet area of Benidorm just five-minute walk from the Costa Blanca resort’s famous Levante Beach.

Hotel chain Med Playa says of the Rio Park Hotel on its website: ‘One of this hotel’s main assets is the personal and friendly staff and service that are popular amongst our guests who return year after year. You will be guaranteed an action-packed holiday that you will never forget.’

It is not yet clear when the man being held in custody will appear in court but it is expected to be later today or tomorrow.

The hearing will be held in private as is normal in Spain where only trials are held in public.

A judge will have to decide whether he should be bailed pending an ongoing investigation or remanded in custody. 

If the judge sees clear evidence the man is not in any way to blame for what happened, he could also decide not to take any further action against him.

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