Thrill-seeker influencer from Derby who fell from bridge in Spain died from head injuries

An influencer from Derby who fell from a 192m-tall bridge in Spain while reportedly creating social media content died from head injuries, an inquest opening heard.

Lewis Stevenson, 26, died on 13 October after he fell from the Castilla-La Mancha bridge outside Talavera de la Reina in Spain.

Assistant coroner Sabyta Kaushal opened the inquest into his death at Derby Coroner’s Court on Tuesday 3 December and adjourned the hearing for further inquiries.

Ms Kaushal told Mr Stevenson’s mother, who attended the hearing: “I am opening the inquest into the death of Lewis Stevenson. He died on 13 October at the Castilla-La Mancha bridge in Spain.“

The inquest will now be adjourned for further investigations to be concluded. When it is concluded then the matter will be listed for a final hearing.”

She added that the cause of Mr Stevenson’s death has been recorded as “blunt force head injuries” after an “uncontrolled descent from height”.

The graphics and print designer climbed the bridge to “create content for social networks”, according to Macarena Munoz, the city’s councillor for citizen security.

She described the fall as an “unfortunate and sad outcome”, but added that climbing the bridge “is totally prohibited and which we have reiterated on many occasions cannot be done under any circumstances”.

The councillor said in the statement that Mr Stevenson had been accompanied by a 24-year-old English man at the time of the fall.

The cable-stayed bridge is the tallest in Spain since it opened in 2011, and crosses the Tagus River.

"He was a thrill seeker"

Mr Stevenson's mother Keilia paid tribute to her son following his death, saying: "Lewis was my boy, my world and my biggest achievement. He was happy and ambitious in life.

"He was a thrill seeker who loved to travel and have new experiences.

"We, as a whole family, supported his adventures around the world, which included amazing places he got to visit like Easter Island and Machu Picchu."

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