British man died in fall after Lanzarote 'bannister collapse'

Darren Silcox fell from a height at the Galeon Playa apartments in Lanzarote

A man died after falling from a height when a bannister collapsed at an apartment block in Lanzarote, a coroner's court has heard.

Darren Silcox, from Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, was on holiday with family at Galeon Playa Apartments in the resort of Costa Teguise last month.

The opening of an inquest into his death was told Mr Silcox fell into an atrium stairwell "following the collapse of a wooden bannister" in the early hours of 25 October.

Spanish civil guard and paramedics attended the scene but he was pronounced dead at 03:30 BST, it heard.

Gwent Coroner's Court was told the local civil guard was conducting an investigation into his death.

Area coroner for Gwent Rose Farmer said she was opening the inquest "due to a death from injuries from a fall".

She said preliminary investigations suggested Mr Silcox died "due to a traumatic brain injury due to a fall, skull fractures and skull lacerations".

The inquest has been adjourned until a full hearing on 20 July 2026.

The Silcox family have been described as the "heart of the community"

Torfaen county councillor David Daniels said Mr Silcox was a "lovely guy".

"Darren and his wife [Kim] were at the heart of the community and had ran the [Premier] shops for many decades.

"Everybody who has grown up in the area would know the shops and we called in there every day after school. He was very kind to us and he was very generous."

He added that Kim Silcox died last year.

"For Darren Silcox to die a year after Kim passed away is unbelievably awful, and our thoughts are with his children, Connor and Ellie."