Hotels in Ibiza have been ordered to install safety nets after a 26-year-old Italian plunged to his death from a seventh floor balcony at a hotel in Playa den Bossa on the island.
The ‘balconing’ craze involves leaping from one hotel balcony to another or into a swimming pool. With the death toll up to six people, the Balearic Islands tourist association is to issue warnings to tourists.
An awareness campaign is to be launched in an effort to stop the continuing fatal practice that has become known as ‘balconing’ in the Balearics.
It is hoped a hard-hitting video campaign will have a similar impact to the graphic road safety adverts shown in Spain.
Other steps have been taken to stem the growing tide such as raising balcony railings. The police are threatening to hand out fines of up to €300 and to have offenders sent home.
Ibiza Hotel Federation president Juan Jose Riera said: “We’ve got to try and do everything possible to prevent it happening.
“These young people think they’re heroes but they’re kamikazes.”