Tobias White-Sansom: UK inquest to look into Spanish nightclub death

Tobias White-Sansom's family believe he was beaten and injected with a tranquiliser before suffering a cardiac arrest

The family of a British man who died after an altercation at a Majorcan nightclub has welcomed a UK coroner's investigation into his death.

Tobias White-Sansom died in a Spanish hospital in July five days after a night out in Magaluf.

The 35-year-old's family dispute the findings of local investigations into his death.

His relatives said they were pleased a UK coroner will now examine evidence collected by the Spanish authorities.

Lorraine Thompson said her "amazing" son - a father-of-two from Nottingham - was pinned down by nightclub security staff following a row over him removing his T-shirt because he was too hot.

She told the BBC the Spanish Civil Guard - the Guardia Civil - were called and her son was handcuffed, tasered and injected with tranquilisers before going into cardiac arrest.

He was taken to hospital where he was kept in an induced coma before doctors advised his life support be switched off on 31 July.

Lorraine Thompson said her son "did not go out looking for any sort of trouble"

Mrs Thompson has raised concerns about the thoroughness of the Spanish authorities' investigations in her son's death and she said she was pleased South Staffordshire Coroners Court have become involved.

The family has already arranged for a second private investigation into Mr White-Sansom's death.

Mrs Thompson said: "When the documentation came through to the UK there were a lot of statements made that were not properly substantiated.

"The UK coroner feels there are gaps and that it needs looking into seriously."

She said she wanted the circumstances of what happened that night to "be brought out into the open".

Tobias White-Sansom's family said they would continue to fight for accountability

Mrs Thompson said an autopsy in Spain had concluded her son's death was drugs-related.

His family disputes this and has asked for a second, independent, autopsy.

She added: "He was a handsome well-groomed man who didn't go out looking for any sort of trouble.

"We will continue fighting for justice for Toby and for those who have caused this to be held accountable."

The Guardia Civil has previously said in a statement: "Upon the arrival of the Guardia Civil police, this man was violent and police reduced him to be assisted by medical services.

"He was taken to the hospital for treatment. There, once while he was being assisted, he was arrested for a crime of injury."

South Staffordshire Coroners Court has confirmed an inquest into Mr White-Sansom's death has opened.

A coroner's spokesperson said: "A date for the resumed inquest has not yet been confirmed."