The mother of an autistic man who died after falling from a hotel balcony in Tenerife has spoken of her enduring grief and confusion, following an inquest that highlighted serious concerns about his care.
A Holiday That Ended in Tragedy
Jamie Cole, a 25-year-old from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, died from multiple injuries after falling from the fifth-floor balcony of his hotel in Los Cristianos, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, on 14 January 2023. He was on a chaperoned holiday organised by the private care company Lifestyle, also known as Accomplish.
The inquest at Avon Coroner's Court, held over two days and concluding on 15 December 2025, heard that Jamie had a history of suicidal thoughts. His carer for the trip, Lousha Rees, employed by Lifestyle, accompanied him.
'Stop Being Silly': The Final Messages
The court was told that on the evening of his death, Jamie and Ms Rees had argued over the cost of a bill during a meal at a restaurant. Ms Rees stated that Jamie had been referring to her as his girlfriend, which she found unsettling.
After the dispute, Jamie left the restaurant first. Ms Rees sent him a text message stating: "I'm not chasing after you. Acting like a 12 year old. It's totally out of order." When Jamie replied "I am heading home", she told him to "do your thing".
Later, Jamie sent a desperate final text to a manager at the care provider, Laura Warrant. He wrote: "I am going to jump now. Can you tell everyone I love them including my mum." Ms Warrant replied, instructing him to "stop being silly and Lousha would be back to hotel soon".
He was discovered deceased that evening. Ms Rees had tried to contact him the next morning and, receiving no reply, assumed he was sleeping. She only learned of his death when she went to his room at 10am and found it cordoned off.
Coroner's Findings and a Mother's Anguish
Senior Coroner Dr Peter Harrowing recorded that Jamie died from multiple injuries sustained from leaping from the balcony. He stated that while Jamie had become "emotionally dysregulated" at the restaurant, his precise intention was not established.
Dr Harrowing found the responses of both Ms Rees and Ms Warrant to be "inappropriate". However, he concluded he did not believe there had been "gross failures" or that there was a real and immediate risk to Jamie's life known to the company.
In a heart-wrenching statement read after the inquest, Jamie's mother, Martine Cole, said: "I will never fully understand how my son went on holiday, happy and healthy, but never came home."
She added: "I can only hope that the inquest into Jamie's death has reminded care companies of their very grave responsibility towards those individuals they chaperone and to also take huge care over support plans and risk assessments. We have lost our precious Jamie forever, but I believe he should still be with us."
Dr Harrowing noted that Lifestyle had since implemented several recommendations following Jamie's death and had "addressed the issues raised", making a report to prevent future deaths unnecessary.
