A British father has died after falling from a sixth-floor hotel balcony in Spain, just hours before the first anniversary of his baby daughter's death. Robert Davidson, 37, plunged from the balcony at the Sandos Griego resort in Torremolinos, Costa del Sol, late last Tuesday.
Family Holiday Turns to Tragedy
His fiancée, Daniella Robb, 27, was asleep with their two children, aged eight and nine, when Robert returned to their hotel room before midnight. He kissed the children and told them he loved them before stepping out onto the balcony for a cigarette. Shortly after, the children woke Daniella, screaming that Robert had fallen.
Avoiding Painful Memories
The family had traveled to the resort on February 1 to avoid being at home on February 4, the date they lost their seven-week-old daughter, Hollie, to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) one year earlier. Daniella described the memories of that day as too raw, prompting the holiday booking.
"We had gone shopping in Malaga and when we returned to the hotel the kids had been playing at the night entertainment," Daniella recalled. "Robert had been at the bar and speaking to other British holidaymakers. It was getting late so I told him I was taking the kids to bed first."
Struggles with Grief and Injury
Daniella revealed that Robert had been deeply struggling with Hollie's death and had not worked since the tragedy. He was due to start a new job in telecommunications the following Monday, which she believed could have helped him. Additionally, Robert suffered a fall on Christmas Eve that left him with a fractured skull, a brain bleed, and confusion, though it is unclear if this contributed to his state of mind.
"Robert was really struggling. I knew he was but I didn't know how badly," Daniella said. "We had been to the doctors and I had asked him to go back. He didn't like to talk about his feelings much but I'd tried to get him to open up. He wanted to be the one that was there for me, he didn't want to put any more on me."
Aftermath and Support
Robert was declared dead at the scene. In shock, Daniella was offered an injection by hotel staff, police, and nurses to calm her. The family is now preparing to fly home, with a GoFundMe page launched to help bring Robert's body back to the UK, having already raised over £9,000.
"We all loved him so much. He was hilarious, he could walk into a room and light it up. He was the most loving person," Daniella said. "We are utterly heartbroken. The children are the priority. We just need to get home now and begin the process of bringing Robert back."
Official Response and Resources
A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed they are providing support to the family and are in contact with local authorities in Spain. For mental health support, individuals can contact the Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org.
