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Date Published: 01/04/2026

British tourist died in Alicante hospital after taking overdose before boarding flight to Spain

Paul Jones, 36, from South Wales, became increasingly unresponsive after arriving on holiday in Benidorm

A 36-year-old man from Rhondda in South Wales died at a hospital in Alicante in February after what an inquest concluded was a drug-related death, with the court hearing he had likely taken an overdose of illicit substances before boarding his flight to Spain.

Paul Jones was declared dead at Marina Baixa Hospital on February 27. Pontypridd Coroners' Court heard that he had probably taken the overdose around five days before his death, prior to getting on his flight. His condition continued to worsen after he landed and coroner Rachel Knight told the court that "upon arrival he became increasingly unresponsive and was taken to hospital in Alicante."

Paul had a past history of drug use, according to evidence heard at the inquest. He died of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, a serious brain injury caused by a reduction in oxygen supply.

Coroner Knight recorded a conclusion of drug-related death, and the court heard that there was "no evidence" that Paul had intended to die.

The inquest is the second in recent months to record a drug-related death involving a young Welsh man on holiday in Spain. Last month, a separate hearing at Pontypridd Coroners' Court examined the death of Harvey Dominy from Merthyr Tydfil, who died in his hotel room in Benidorm just hours after arriving for his first lads' holiday.

Harvey and his friends had bought cocaine and MDMA shortly after arriving at the resort and toxicology reports confirmed he had alcohol, cocaine and MDMA in his system when he died. Authorities estimated his death occurred between 9pm and 10.30pm on July 16, 2024.

Image: GoFundMe

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